FIRST 

EVANGELICAL  LUTHERAN 

CHURCH 


ANNIVERSARY  SOUVENIR 


1868—1918 


MONMOUTH,  ILLINOIS 


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CONGREGATION  AFTER  A  MORNING  SERVICE. 


THE  NEW  CHURCH. 


FIFTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  SOUVENIR 


FIRST  EV.  LUTHERAN  CHURCH 

MONMOUTH,  ILLINOIS 

OSCAR  PURN,  pastor 


E Dll  ED  BY  THE  CONGREGATION 


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ROCK  ISLAND,  ILL. 

AUGUSTANA  BOOK  CONCERN,  PRINTERS 

1918 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2018  with  funding  from 
University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign 


https://archive.org/details/fiftiethannivers00unse_3 


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PREFA CE 

The  year  of  Jubilee  has  been  ushered  in  for  our  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church  in  Monmouth.  Fifty  years  of  ceaseless  labor ,  watchings,  prayers, 
victories,  joys  and  endless  thanksgiving  are  entwined  with  the  history  of 
the  past. 

In  order  that  the  experiences  of  the  fathers  may  not  entirely  be  lost  to 
their  children,  it  is  fitting  to  stop  for  a  review  of  the  past  at  certain  mile¬ 
stones  along  the  pathway  of  life.  Such  a  milestone  was  reached,  by  our 
congregation  ten  years  ago,  when  the  fortieth  anniversary  celebration 
was  held  and  a  “  Minnesalbum”  was  issued.  But  the  golden  Year  of 
J ubilee — fifty  years — beckons  to  us  again  for  a  proper  observance  of  past 
events.  The  congregation,  therefore,  decided  at  the  annual  meeting, 
January  I,  IQ18,  that,  whereas  our  congregation  will  be  fifty  years  old 
on  the  2nd  of  February  this  year,  we  hold  a  Jubilee  celebration  com¬ 
memorating  the  organization  of  our  congregation ,  and  that  a  Jubilee 
Souvenir  be  issued.  An  editorial  and  managing  staff  was  elected,  con¬ 
sisting  of  the  folloiving  persons: 

The  Pastor,  Editor  in  Chief,  A.  V.  Peterson,  Mouretz  Tinman,  John 
Swanson  and  A.  A.  Olson,  as  Assistant  Editors;  A .  A.  Johnson,  Business 
Manager,  and  as  Assistants :  Fred  Nelson,  August  Hagman,  G.  T.  Mel- 
burg,  Chas.  Dahlgren,  W m.  N civilian,  F.  A.  Stark  and  W.  H .  Olson. 

It  was  also  decided  to  hold  this  celebration  September  ij — IS,  1918, 
owing  to  the  more  favorable  season  for  such  an  undertaking. 

This  staff  has  worked  conscientiously  in  trying  to  carry  out  the  wishes 
of  the  congregation.  Much  material  which  could  have  been  used  in 
attempting  to  take  a  retrospect  of  the  activities  of  our  church  has  had 
to  remain  as  silent  reminders  of  the  unwritten  past.  We  have  been 
fortunate  in  having  access  to  the  old  records,  as  well  as  the  history 
written  by  the  former  pastor  ten  years  ago.  But  the  historical  sketch 
has  nevertheless  been  written  in  an  abbreviated  form.  As  respects  the 
language  used  in  compiling  this  Souvenir,  it  was  deemed  most  satisfactory 


for  the  present  needs  of  our  church  to  use  the  language  of  the  land ,  but 
we  have  tried  to  give  place ,  as  far  as  possible ,  for  our  beautiful  mother- 
tongue. 

With  the  hope  of  serving  our  Master  and  our  congregation  through 
this  little  messenger ,  and  commending  the  same  to  your  gracious  con¬ 
sideration,  we  dedicate  this  volume  in  the  Triune  name  of  God  to  the 
memory  of  every  faithful  servant  of  God  in  our  church  during  the  past 
fifty  years. 

“ Behold ,  I  come  quickly,  and  my  reward  is  with  me,  to  render  to  each 
man  according  as  his  work  is.” 

Monmouth,  Illinois,  September  15,  igi8. 

Faithfully  yours, 

OSCAR  PURN. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CONGREGATION 


“Remember  the  days  of  old,  consider  the  years  of  many  generations : 
ask  thy  father,  and  he  will  shew  thee ;  thy  elders,  and  they  will  tell  thee. 
When  the  Most  High  divided  to  the  nations  their  inheritance,  when  he 
separated  the  sons  of  Adam,  he  set  the  bounds  of  the  people  according 
to  the  number  of  children  of  Israel.  For  the  Lord’s  portion  is  his  people ; 
Jacob  is  the  lot  of  his  inheritance /’  Deut.  32:  7 — 9. 

“I  have  planted,  Apollos  watered ;  but  God  gave  the  increase.  So  then 
neither  is  he  that  planteth  anything,  neither  he  that  watereth;  but  God 
that  giveth  the  increase.  Now  he  that  planteth  and  he  that  watereth  are 
one ;  and  every  man  shall  receive  his  own  reward  according  to  his  own 
labor.  For  we  are  laborers  together  with  God :  ye  are  God’s  husbandry , 
ye  are  God’s  building.’’  1  Cor.  3  :  6 — 9. 

F^IFTY  years  of  earthly  existence  is  but  a  brief  period  of  time  in 
the  ever  increasing  years  of  historical  events.  Yet  in  the  life  of 
the  individual  fifty  years  may  have  their  history  to  relate,  and  this 
can  in  a  greater  degree  be  said  of  a  congregation  of  individuals.  But  to 
chronicle  the  events  that  would  be  considered  most  vital  in  the  life  of 
a  congregation  for  a  period  of  fifty  years,  where  the  greatest  of  God’s 
work  belongs  to  the  realm  of  the  unseen  spiritual  realities,  would  he  a 
most  difficult  task  and  could  only  be  accomplished  by  an  inspired  pen. 
We  cannot  therefore  even  attempt  such  a  gigantic  undertaking,  but  we 
shall  simply  have  to  confine  ourselves  to  the  outward  structure  of  the 
Christian  edifice  which  has  been  reared  through  the  instrumentality  of 
God’s  faithful  servants  in  this  community  during  the  past  half  century. 

We  are  dealing  with  the  Church  of  Christ,  and  hence  whatever  may 
have  been  the  experiences  in  the  past,  the  outlook  for  the  future  is  always 
most  promising.  Christ  has  said  concerning  His  Church:  “The  gates 
of  hell  shall  not  prevail  against  her.”  From  this  we  know  that  the 


8 


ANNIVERSARY 


DR.  T.  X.  IIASSELgriST. 
Founder  of  the  congregation 


SOUVENIR 


9 


militant  Church  must  some  day  become  the  Church  triumphant,  but 
while  we  are  waiting  for  this  consummation,  we  are  ever  weaving  into 
the  Christian  fabric  chords  of  telling  events  in  the  different  quarters  of 
Christ’s  extensive  kingdom  here  on  earth.  It  must  therefore  be  a  cause 
for  great  rejoicing  in  our  midst  that  we  here  in  Monmouth  have  the 
sacred  privilege  of  celebrating  an  event  which  took  place  fifty  years  ago, 


PASTOR  HAIvAN  OLSON. 

Chairman  when  the  congregation  was  organized. 


which  has  had  such  wonderful  blessed  results  for  time  and  eternity  for 
those  who  have  been  the  objects  of  God’s  administration  of  grace  in  this 
community,  as  well  as  elsewhere. 

It  is  therefore  fitting  at  this  fiftieth  anniversary  celebration  that  we 
give  heed  unto  the  words  of  God’s  faithful  servant  Moses,  “Remember 
the  days  of  old,  consider  the  years  of  many  generations;  ask  thy  father, 
and  he  will  shew  thee;  thy  elders,  and  they  will  tell  thee,’’  so  that  we 


IO 


ANNIVERSARY 


MllS.  N ELS  ANDERSON. 


SOUVENIR 


1 1 

of  the  present  generation  may  become  the  better  fitted  for  the  future 
work  of  our  Church.  Looking  back  over  these  years,  we  see  so  many 
things  looming  up  before  our  vision,  and  truly  we  feel  that  the  best 
history  of  the  congregation  would  be  to  relate  the  experiences  of  every 
man,  woman  and  child  —  “the  quick  and  the  dead” — ,  but  even  if  such 
a  story  would  be  interesting  indeed,  it  is  out  of  the  question,  and  hence 
it  must  become  a  fragmentary  summary  of  the  principal  events. 

The  guiding  hand  of  God  has  ever  directed  the  events  of  His  Church, 
and  what  experiences  of  grace  and  blessings  as  well  as  reverses  our 
church  has  made  during  these  fifty  years  must  be  ascribed  to  His  loving 
providence.  We  can  only  lift  our  hearts  in  gratitude  unto  God  for  His 
unspeakable  mercies  and  blessings  showered  upon  His  unworthy  children, 
and  we  say  with  the  Psalmist:  “The  Lord  is  good;  his  mercy  is  ever¬ 
lasting;  and  his  truth  endureth  to  all  generations.” 

The  activities  which  led  up  to  the  organization  of  our  congregation 
may  be  said  to  have  started  as  early  as  1852  and  1853  among  the  early 
settlers  from  the  Scandinavian  countries.  True  to  their  religious  practice 
in  their  homeland,  they  gathered  for  worship  in  the  various  settlements 
in  rudely  constructed  sanctuaries.  Galesburg  was  such  a  center  of 
influence  in  the  early  fifties,  and  it  was  here  that  the  nucleus  of  our 
congregation  found  their  spiritual  nurture  at  first  under  the  kind  leader¬ 
ship  of  Dr.  T.  N.  Hasselquist,  who  also  at  the  request  of  the  Lutherans 
living  in  Monmouth  and  vicinity  at  that  time  continued  to  minister 
unto  the  scattered  flock  for  a  few  years,  which  resulted  in  the  organiza¬ 
tion  of  a  congregation  in  the  year  of  1859,  numbering  at  that  time  about 
thirteen  communicants.  Of  these  we  still  have  with  us  Mrs.  Anna  Beck, 
the  sole  survivor  of  the  first  organization.  The  services  were  held  prin¬ 
cipally  at  the  Court  House.  Services  continued  to  be  held  quite  regu¬ 
larly  until  the  year  1863,  when  Dr.  Hasseuquist  left  Galesburg  for  his 
duties  as  pastor  of  the  Lutheran  church  at  Paxton.  This  left  the  little 
flock  without  a  shepherd,  and  the  consequence  was,  as  is  always  the  case 
with  a  shepherdless  flock,  that  the  few  members  were  scattered  in  various 
directions,  due  also  to  some  extent  to  sectarian  influence.  The  sad  but 
inevitable  dissolution  of  the  first  organization  became  a  gradual  reality, 
but  a  few  staunch  and  faithful  Lutherans  were  nevertheless  intent  upon 
hearing  the  Gospel  preached  to  them  in  the  Lutheran  way,  and  through 
the  kind  services  of  Pastors  Winquist  of  Galesburg,  A.  Andreen  of 
Swedona  and  Hakan  Olson  of  New  Sweden,  Iowa,  occasional  services 
were  held  in  Monmouth,  encouraging  the  few  Lutherans  to  remain 


12 


ANNIVERSARY 


]>l{.  J.  1-:.  FLOREN.  PASTOR  AUGUST  JOHNSON. 


SOUVENIR 


1 3 


faithful  to  their  mother-church.  Those  who  then  felt  the  need  of  their 
church  home  gathered  on  the  2nd  of  February,  1868,  in  the  Court  House 
and  decided  in  the  name  of  the  Triune  God  to  reorganize  the  scattered 
forces,  and  it  is  from  this  date  that  we  reckon  the  beginning  of  our  con¬ 
gregation,  which  makes  this  year  of  1918  the  year  of  Jubilee  in  the 
history  of  our  church. 

AVe  consider  it  proper  to  quote  the  minutes  of  the  organization  meet¬ 
ing,  wrhereas  this  has  particular  historical  value.  The  following  are  the 
minutes  of  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting: 

“Minutes  of  the  public  meeting  held  by  the  several  Scandinavians  in 
Monmouth,  Warren  Co.,  Ill.,  the  2nd  of  February,  1868,  for  the  pur¬ 
pose  of  organizing  a  congregation.  At  a  public  service  January  6th  of 
this  year,  conducted  by  Pastor  A.  AV.  Dahlsten  from  Galesburg,  Ill., 
announcement  had  been  made  of  the  purpose  of  this  meeting  on  this  day. 

“The  meeting  was  called  to  order,  and  Pastor  Hakan  Olson  from 
New  Sweden,  Iowa,  was  elected  president  and  Olaf  Nelson,  secretary. 
It  was  decided:  1.  That  we  here  assembled  in  the  triune  name  of  God 
organize  ourselves  into  a  congregation  with  the  name  Swedish  Evan¬ 
gelical  Lutheran  Church  of  Alonmouth,  Warren  County,  Illinois. 

“2.  That  we  adopt  the  unaltered  articles  of  faith  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  as  the  confession  of  the  congregation,  and  as  soon  as  circum¬ 
stances  permit,  we  shall  adopt  a  constitution  to  govern  the  same. 

“3.  That  the  congregation  shall  apply  for  admission  into  the  Swedish 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Augustana  Synod  of  North  America. 

“Then  followed  the  election  of  officers,  as  follows:  As  deacons,  John 
Beck  and  Olof  Nelson  were  elected  for  twTo  years,  and  Ake  Nelson  and 
N.  Holm  for  one  year.  As  trustees,  Peter  Ringdahl  and  Gustaf  AVede- 
lin  were  elected  for  two  years,  and  Johannes  Jacobson  was  elected  for 
one  year.  May  the  grace  and  blessings  of  God  rest  over  the  decisions 
of  this  meeting. 

Ut  supra  in  fidem 

H.  Olson,  Chairman. 

Olaf  Nelson,  Secretary.” 

The  congregation  numbered  at  the  time  of  the  organization  twenty- 
eight  communicants  and  thirteen  children,  making  a  total  of  forty-one 
members.  The  old  records  show  the  following  names  as  chartered  mem¬ 
bers :  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Beck,  Air.  and  Mrs.  Gustaf  AVedelin  and 
family,  Air.  and  Airs.  Peter  Ringdahl,  Mr.  and  Airs.  Ake  Nelson  and 
family,  Air.  and  Mrs.  Jakob  Romer,  Air.  and  Airs.  Carl  Anderson  and 


14 


ANNIVERSARY 


’ASTOH  A  l  '(JIT ST  JOHNSON  AND  FAMILY. 


SOUVENIR 


15 


family,  Mr.  and  Mrs  Johannes  Jakobson  and  family,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Swen  Jacobson,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  Kali,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  Lander 
and  family,  Nels  Holm,  H.  P.  Bjorklund,  H.  M.  Ljungquist,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  A.  W.  Swenson,  Carl  Olson,  Olof  Nelson,  and  Miss  Christine 
Olson  (now  Mrs.  Nels  Anderson). 

The  following  year,  on  the  15th  of  August,  the  congregation  held  a 
special  meeting,  presided  over  by  Pastor  A.  Andreen  from  Swedona,  Ill., 
at  which  time  the  constitution  of  the  Augustana  Synod  was  adopted 
and  a  decision  to  build  a  church  was  passed,  the  dimensions  to  be  34x50 
and  18  ft.  high.  The  building  committee  consisted  of  Trued  Nordgren, 
James  Larson,  Peter  Ringdahl,  Gustaf  Wedelin,  Peter  Kali  and  John 
Beck.  This  committee  should  also  select  a  suitable  building  site.  These 
decisions  were  executed  the  following  year,  or  1870.  The  lots  selected 
by  the  committee  were  at  that  time  on  the  outskirts  of  the  city,  but 
being  a  donation  by  Air.  Wood,  the  congregation  considered  it  advan¬ 
tageous  to  accept  with  thanks  the  kind  offer,  and  the  first  house  of  wor¬ 
ship  was  thus  constructed,  making  it,  however,  ten  feet  shorter  than 
originally  decided. 

At  the  congregational  meeting  on  the  7th  of  June,  1870,  the  following 
were  added  to  the  building  committee:  Mans  Cassel,  A.  Nelson  and 
Mr.  Naslund.  The  trustees  were  elected  as  a  subscription  committee, 
and  their  efforts  brought  forth  a  sum  of  $878.61,  varying  from  $100.00 
to  $1.00,  which  in  those  days  must  be  considered  excellently  done,  in 
view  of  the  fact  that  our  people  were  only  poor  immigrants,  having 
recently  come  from  the  fatherland. 

Having  now  a  church  home,  it  became  necessary  to  secure  a  preacher 
to  minister  to  the  flock.  It  was  decided  at  the  congregational  meeting 
held  January  16,  1871,  that  “service  be  held  every  Sunday  at  10:30 
a.  m.,  and,  in  the  absence  of  a  pastor,  then  the  deacons  shall  read  out  of 
some  well  known  postil.”  It  was  also  decided  at  this  meeting  that  the 
deacons  should  secure  some  one  to  lead  the  congregational  singing  and, 
if  possible,  to  see  to  it  that  a  choir  be  organized.  It  is  quite  significant 
that  at  this  early  period  they  found  it  necessary  to  decide  that  at  least 
two  classes  in  Sunday-school,  which  was  to  be  held  every  Sunday,  should 
use  the  English  language.  At  a  special  meeting  November  26,  1871, 
the  congregation  extended  a  call  to  the  catechist  Mr.  N.  Nordling  from 
Galesburg  to  preach  and  have  charge  of  the  congregational  work  in 
Monmouth.  This  call  was  accepted,  and  Mr.  Nordling  worked  with 
seeming  success  until  1873. 


i6 


ANNIVERSARY 


In  respect  to  church  discipline  in  these  pioneer  days  we  find  that  they 
were  more  strict  than  is  the  customary  practice  of  to-day  in  our  church. 
They  even  passed  the  rigid  rule,  that  if  any  member  was  in  arrears  in 


PASTOR  T.  A.  CONRAD. 


his  membership  dues  for  one  year,  he  should  be  stricken  from  the  Church 
Records.  Such  a  procedure  might  work  havoc  in  many  congregations 
to-day. 

At  a  congregational  meeting  held  February  6,  1873,  it  was  decided 
to  extend  a  permanent  call  to  Air.  N.  Nordling,  with  the  understanding 
that  he  apply  for  ordination  to  the  ministry  as  soon  as  possible.  This. 


SOUVENIR 


17 


however,  never  materialized,  and  hence  the  following  year,  on  the  26th 
of  December,  the  congregation  extended  a  call  to  the  pastor  of  Knox¬ 
ville,  Ill.,  Pastor  C.  Waleen,  to  preach  in  Monmouth  every  third  Sun¬ 
day,  for  which  services  he  was  to  receive  $200.00  annually.  Pastor 
Waleen  had  charge  of  the  congregation  for  a  period  of  one  year,  and 
again,  on  the  3rd  of  December,  1875,  a  call  was  issued  to  Pastor  A.  W. 
Holmgren  from  Biggsville,  but  unfortunately  this  pastor  was  removed 
from  the  ministry  at  the  following  synodical  meeting,  which  left  our 
church  again  without  a  shepherd. 

At  a  special  congregational  meeting  held  October  29,  1876,  it  was 
decided  to  extend  a  call,  together  with  the  congregation  at  Biggsville, 
to  Pastor  Elias  Petterson  of  Rock  Island,  and  to  the  great  joy  of  the 
congregation,  Pastor  Petterson  accepted  the  call  and  labored  success¬ 
fully  for  a  period  of  over  two  years.  It  was  during  his  pastorate  that 
the  first  parsonage  was  built,  in  the  year  1877,  costing  in  the  neighbor¬ 
hood  of  $1,000.00.  This  parsonage  was  not  to  be  compared  with 
modern  houses,  yet  it  was  a  comfortable  home  in  the  early  stages  of  our 
church’s  activities. 

Pastor  Petterson,  however,  did  not  remain  very  long  with  the  con¬ 
gregation.  Having  a  call  to  the  Nebraska  Conference,  he  decided  to 
leave  Monmouth  in  the  fall  of  1878.  Again  the  congregation  was 
without  a  shepherd,  and  at  the  annual  meeting  January  19,  1879,  a  call 
was  extended  to  Air.  L.  Swenson  of  Galesburg  to  become  temporary 
leader  of  the  flock.  The  call  was  accepted,  and  Mr.  Swenson  con¬ 
tinued  his  services  until  1881.  In  the  meantime  calls  had  been  issued 
to  the  theological  student  Air.  M.  P.  Oden  of  Rock  Island  and  Pastor 
Nils  Forsander  of  Kingston,  Iowa,  and,  later  on,  to  the  theological 
student  Air.  Martin  Almquist,  but  none  found  it  possible  to  accept. 

Students  from  Rock  Island  cared  for  the  congregation  during  the 
years  1882 — 1884,  among  whom  we  find  Gustaf  Petterson,  Martin 
Almquist,  C.  E.  Elving,  Osterholm,  G.  A.  Brandelle,  the  latter  being 
now  the  honored  president  of  the  Augustana  Synod. 

At  a  special  meeting  held  January  29,  1885,  the  congregation  issued 
a  call  to  the  theological  student  Mr.  Wm.  Swanson,  who,  however,  did 
not  accept,  whereupon  another  meeting  was  held  February  26,  1885, 
and  a  call  extended  to  the  theological  student  Mr.  J.  E.  Floren.  This 
call  was  accepted,  and  after  his  ordination  Pastor  Floren  entered  upon 
his  pastoral  duties  the  second  Sunday  of  July,  1885. 

With  the  beginning  of  pastor  Floren’s  pastorate  the  congregation 


1 8 


ANNIVERSARY 


PASTOR  CONRAD  AND  FAMILY 


SOUVENIR 


i9 


entered  upon  a  new  era.  The  pioneer  days  through  which  the  congre¬ 
gation  had  passed  had  been  days  of  trials  and  hardships  in  many  respects, 
but  God’s  guiding  hand  of  providence  had  been  with  the  little  flock, 
so  that  the  wrork  which  He  had  begun  should  not  perish  from  the  earth. 
With  the  sowing  that  had  been  done  during  these  seventeen  years  or 
more,  some  fruit  had  to  be  in  evidence.  With  youthful  enthusiasm 
Pastor  Floren  grappled  with  the  problems  confronting  the  church  at 
that  time.  Rigorous  discipline  was  exercised,  and  many  had  to  appear 
before  the  church  council  to  answer  for  their  conduct.  Strange  as  it 
may  seem,  wfiile  such  rigid  rules  were  enforced,  the  congregation  pros¬ 
pered,  which  can  only  be  explained  on  the  basis  of  an  inner  purging 
which  was  wholesome  indeed.  The  congregation  learned  to  love  and 
respect  their  enthusiastic  and  forceful  leader,  and  it  was  therefore  with 
much  regret  that,  after  a  pastorate  of  only  two  years,  the  congregation 
was  compelled  to  accept  his  resignation  and  yield  to  the  wishes  of  the 
church  at  Salina,  Kansas. 

The  congregation  had  in  the  meantime  extended  a  call  to  Pastor 
August  Johnson  of  Andover  at  a  meeting  held  March  13,  1887.  Great 
joy  filled  the  hearts  of  the  members  when  he  accepted  and  entered  upon 
his  duties  as  pastor  of  this  church  September  1,  1887.  Having  lost  an 
enthusiastic  leader  in  the  departure  of  Pastor  Floren  to  another  field 
of  labor,  they  gained  a  firm  and  pietistic  leader  in  the  arrival  of  Pastor 
Johnson.  His  pastorate,  which  extended  over  a  period  of  nearly  twenty 
years,  can  be  characterized  as  a  period  of  “spiritual  upbuilding’’  of  the 
congregation.  The  outward  activities  received  also  an  orderly  attention, 
so  that  the  congregation  grew  from  a  membership  of  about  two  hundred 
to  about  four  hundred  and  sixty  members,  and  during  this  time  the 
Dorcas  Society,  as  well  as  the  Young  People’s  Society,  or  Luther  League, 
lived  a  healthy  life. 

The  first  church  building  and  parsonage  were  renovated  and  added 
to  in  the  year  1893,  so  that  it  could  be  said  at  that  time  that  the  con¬ 
gregation  had  a  “beautiful  and  commodious  church  with  only  an  in¬ 
debtedness  of  about  $500.00.’’ 

The  following  years  of  “hard  times’’  in  our  country,  the  years  of  1893 
— 1896,  affected  the  church  activities  to  quite  an  extent.  But  wFile 
our  people  bore  the  burdens  of  poverty  and  hardships,  they  also  learnt 
to  trust  in  the  unfailing  arm  of  God  the  more  implicitly,  and  the  result 
was  a  more  spiritually  alive  congregation,  indicated  by  the  reports  that 
“services  have  been  better  attended  than  previously.’’ 


20 


ANNIVERSARY 


PASTOR  OSCAR  PURX. 


SOUVENIR 


21 


At  the  annual  meeting  of  1897  the  language  question  was  again 
brought  to  the  foreground,  and  a  committee  was  elected  to  take  under 
advisement  the  introduction  of  English  into  the  Sunday-school.  Pastor 
Johnson  writes  thus  regarding  this  question:  “It  is  evident  that  we 
cannot  stem  this  tide  which  confronts  us,  and  we  must  see  to  it  and  be 
alert  so  that  we  may  be  able  to  exist  when  the  new  conditions  will  arise.” 

The  succeeding  years  were  years  of  external  growth  for  the  congrega¬ 
tion,  and  at  the  annual  meeting  January  1,  1903,  Pastor  Johnson 
reports  that,  owing  to  the  bequest  of  Peter  Erling,  amounting  to  about 
$3,000.00,  and  the  constant  increase  in  membership,  there  were  many 
voices  raised  for  the  erection  of  a  new  church  edifice.  Though  it  took 
ten  years  before  these  voices  had  realized  their  “song,”  the  congregation 
may  consider  itself  fortunate  in  abiding  the  opportune  time  for  the 
building  of  our  beautiful  house  of  worship.  At  a  special  meeting  Feb¬ 
ruary  7,  1903,  it  was  decided  to  replace  the  old  pews  of  1871  by  new 
ones,  a  platform  was  to  be  built  to  extend  over  the  whole  front  of  the 
church,  and  the  church  was  to  be  carpeted.  At  another  special  meeting 
held  September  22,  1903,  it  was  decided  to  build  an  addition  to  the 
church.  This  addition  was  completed  in  the  spring  of  1904  and  was 
known  as  the  “Luther  Hall,”  which  served  a  good  purpose  for  social 
meetings  and  other  gatherings  for  a  number  of  years. 

After  a  long  and  successful  pastorate,  Pastor  Johnson,  upon  receiving 
a  call  from  the  church  at  La  Porte,  Indiana,  resigned  from  this  church 
October  12,  1906,  and  at  the  beginning  of  the  next  year  moved  to  his 
last  field  of  labor,  where  he  continued  until  his  death,  July  14,  1916. 
It  may  be  said  of  Pastor  Johnson’s  service  to  this  congregation:  “Well 
done,  thou  good  and  faithful  servant.” 

The  congregation  was  again  without  a  shepherd,  and  calls  were  issued 
to  several  pastors.  Pastor  O.  N.  Olson  of  Chicago  was  called  twice, 
Pastor  J.  T.  Kraft  of  Elgin,  Ill.,  once,  Prof.  A.  W.  Kjellstrand  was 
called  to  fill  the  vacancy,  and  finally,  at  an  extra  meeting  held  April  3, 
1907,  a  call  was  issued  to  Pastor  Titus  A.  Conrad  of  Swedona.  This 
call  was  accepted,  to  the  great  joy  of  the  congregation.  In  the  mean¬ 
time  the  congregation  decided  to  build  a  new  and  modern  parsonage 
for  their  new  pastor’s  family,  and  a  committe  consisting  of  the  following 
men  had  this  in  charge:  Win.  H.  Olson,  Gus  T.  Melburg,  John  Nelson, 
John  L.  Martin,  A.  A.  Johnson,  J.  S.  Olson,  Swan  Johnson,  J.  E. 
Gagnelius,  Nels  N.  Levine,  Swan  N.  Linman,  A.  L.  Martin  and  Louis 


22 


ANNIVERSARY 


Levine.  This  parsonage  was  well  nigh  completed  when  Pastor  Conrad 
entered  upon  his  duties,  September  I,  1907. 

With  youthful  enthusiasm  Pastor  Conrad  began  his  new  duties  in 
the  city  of  Monmouth.  At  the  first  annual  meeting  at  which  he  pre¬ 
sided  he  recommended  in  his  pastoral  report  that  a  “new  church  be  built 
if  we  are  to  exist  in  this  place.”  This  question  was  a  yearly  “problem.” 
until  it  was  finally  solved  at  the  annual  meeting  January  1,  1912. 


PASTOR  AXD  MRS.  OSCAR  PURX. 

In  the  early  part  of  his  pastorate  Pastor  Conrad  organized  several 
of  our  societies,  which  have  been  a  great  financial  aid  to  the  congregation 
during  the  preparatory  period  for  the  new  church  property.  The 
Martha  Society  was  organized  November  21,  1907,  the  Eleanor  Aid 
Society  April  9,  1908,  the  Lutheran  Workers  October  15,  1909,  the 
Mission  Society  having  been  organized  during  the  vacancy,  May  16. 
1907. 


SOUVENIR 


23 


The  ever  active  Luther  League  took  upon  itself  to  install  a  pipe  organ 
during  the  year  of  1908,  and  at  the  annual  meeting  of  1909  it  was 
reported  that  this  had  been  accomplished,  that  the  instrument,  purchased 
from  the  Bennett  Organ  Co.  of  Rock  Island,  costing  $2,850.00,  had 
been  paid  for,  and  that  there  still  was  a  balance  in  the  Luther  League 
treasury.  It  is  the  same  organ,  rebuilt,  that  yet  to-day  serves  to  trans¬ 
port  our  minds  heavenward  by  its  beautiful  and  mellow  tones. 

At  the  annual  meeting  January  1,  1910,  a  decision  was  made  that  a 
“subscription  of  $20,000.00  be  taken  and  no  building  operation  be  un¬ 
dertaken  until  said  amount  is  gathered,  unless  the  congregation  other¬ 
wise  decides  at  some  subsequent  meeting.”  The  original  plan  was  to 
gather  this  sum  during  a  period  of  five  years,  and  that  each  communicant 
should  contribute  $10.00  yearly  for  five  years  to  this  building  fund. 
But  another  year’s  experience  had  infused  more  enthusiasm  and  aspira¬ 
tion,  and  it  was  thought  best  to  raise  at  least  $30,000.00  before  begin¬ 
ning  building  operations.  But  as  time  went  on  and  Pastor  Conrad 
with  his  energetic  spirit  saw  great  opportunities  for  our  church  in  the 
future,  the  building  fund  grew  in  dimensions  until  it  reached  the  sum 
of  $42,710.01  at  the  annual  meeting  January  1,  1915. 

But  it  was  not  enough  to  gather  a  building  fund  only.  The  question 
of  where  to  locate  the  new  church  had  also  to  be  solved.  The  congrega¬ 
tion  realized  that  the  location  where  the  old  church  stood  was  not  so 
desirable,  hence,  at  the  initiative  of  the  Men’s  Society,  it  was  finally, 
after  a  great  deal  of  discussion,  decided  to  dispose  of  the  old  property 
and  a  more  centrally  located  property  be  procured.  At  a  special  meeting 
October  11,  1910,  it  was  decided  to  purchase  a  lot  on  Broadway  and  B 
Street  for  a  sum  of  $4,700.  This  lot,  however,  was  not  fully  satis¬ 
factory,  and  hence  it  was  decided  at  the  annual  meeting  January  1,  1912, 
to  exchange  this  lot  for  a  larger  and  more  suitable  lot  on  the  corner  of 
First  Avenue  and  B  Street,  which  belonged  to  two  of  our  members, 
having  been  purchased  originally  with  the  view  of  locating  our  church 
on  this  beautiful  corner.  It  was  also  decided  at  this  meeting  to  proceed 
with  the  building  of  a  new  church,  and  the  following  committee  was 
elected  to  execute  the  plans:  Pastor  Titus  A.  Conrad,  chairman,  J.  w. 
Pearson,  Gus  T.  Melburg,  A.  A.  Johnson,  A.  L.  Martin,  August  Hag- 
man,  Swan  Johnson  and  Wm.  H.  Olson.  After  the  committee  had 
worked  out  a  plan  for  the  new  church  edifice  by  visiting  other  churches 
in  the  conference,  they  selected  Mr.  A.  T.  Simmons  from  Bloomington 
as  architect,  who  drew  the  plans  of  the  present  church,  which  were 


24 


ANNIVERSARY 


A.  A.  CARLSON,  MOURITZ  UNMAN, 

Deacon  and  Treasurer  of  Poor  Fund.  Deacon  and  Secretary  of  Congregation. 


SOUVENIR 


2.5 


accepted  by  the  committee  with  very  few  changes.  The  contract  was 
let  July  8,  1912,  to  Mr.  Wm.  Kuhne  of  Rantoul,  Ill.,  for  a  sum  of 
$31,034.00.  About  $700.00  was  added  to  this  sum  for  changes  made 
from  the  original  plan.  Adding  the  cost  of  the  interior  finish  and  fur¬ 
nishings  of  the  church,  as  well  as  the  cost  of  the  site,  the  total  cost  of 
the  church  amounted  at  that  time  to  $52,504.26.  The  foundation  was 
laid  in  the  fall  of  1912,  but  on  account  of  unavoidable  delays,  the  corner 
stone  was  not  laid  until  June  22,  1913,  at  which  time  Dr.  M.  C. 
Ranseen  officiated,  assisted  by  the  pastors  of  the  district.  The  building 
was  completed  at  the  beginning  of  1914,  so  that  dedicatory  services  could 
be  held  on  Sunday,  February  8,  1914.  This  service,  conducted  by  the 
conference  president,  Dr.  M.  C.  Ranseen,  assisted  by  Dr.  Gustav  An- 
dreen  and  the  pastors  of  the  district,  marks  the  culmination  of  energetic 
and  persistent  efforts  on  the  part  of  the  pastor  and  his  liberal  and  sacri¬ 
ficing  congregation. 

Though  the  congregation  had  built  a  new  parsonage  for  Pastor 
Conrad’s  upon  their  arrival  in  Monmouth  in  1907,  yet,  because  of  the 
new  location  selected  for  the  church,  it  was  deemed  best  to  dispose  of 
the  parsonage  as  well  as  the  old  church.  This  deal  was  made  with  the 
West  Side  Presbyterian  Church  in  1913,  on  the  condition  that  they 
would  get  possession  of  the  same  as  soon  as  our  congregation  could  move 
into  its  new  church.  The  congregation  therefore  at  the  annual  meeting 
of  1914  decided  to  build  a  new  parsonage  alongside  its  beautiful  new 
church  building,  and  a  building  committee  was  elected,  consisting  of  the 
following  men:  Pastor  T.  A.  Conrad,  chairman,  J.  S.  Olson,  John 
Nelson,  Chas.  Dahlgren,  John  Martin  and  Chas.  Strand.  The  contract 
was  let  at  once  to  Mr.  Wm.  Kuhne.  The  new  and  convenient  par¬ 
sonage  was  completed  in  June,  at  a  cost  of  $6,098.23,  and  upon  their 
return  from  their  vacation  Pastor  Conrad’s  moved  into  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  parsonages  that  have  been  built  in  recent  years  within  our 
Synod. 

The  congregation  was  now  equipped  for  intensive  and  aggressive 
work.  Pastor  Conrad  had  at  the  beginning  of  his  pastorate  started  a 
parish  paper,  called  “Our  Church,’’  and  through  this  he  had  been  able 
to  reach  the  ears  of  many  in  respect  to  what  he  desired  to  he  done  both 
as  to  the  external  as  well  as  the  internal  conditions  of  the  church.  He 
was  ably  assisted  by  Mr.  Arvid  Peterson,  as  assistant  editor,  Mr.  Gus 
T.  Melb  urg,  as  business  manager,  as  well  as  others  who  lent  their  time 
and  efforts  to  the  success  of  our  parish  paper.  This  medium  was  par- 


26 


ANNIVERSARY 


SOUVENIR 


27 


ticularly  helpful  in  the  work  of  gathering  funds  for  the  new  church 
property,  which  required  persistent  efforts  and  much  prayer  and  sacri¬ 
ficing  both  on  the  part  of  the  pastor  as  well  as  the  members.  But  God 
blessed  these  efforts  and  crowned  the  undertaking  with  success. 

During  Pastor  Conrad’s  time  the  internal  condition  of  the  church 
had  also  received  its  due  consideration  in  spite  of  the  many  outward 
duties.  When  he  entered  upon  his  duties,  the  congregation  numbered 
460  members,  and  it  grew  during  his  pastorate  to  534  communicants 
and  160  children,  or  a  total  of  694  members.  The  societies  have  been 
conducted  along  the  lines  of  order  and  efficiency,  and  have  been  excellent 
handmaidens  in  the  work  of  our  church.  We  can  truthfully  say  that 
Pastor  Conrad  together  with  a  faithful  staff  of  co-laborers  have  accom¬ 
plished  a  monumental  work,  which  will  ever  bear  testimony  to  the 
devotedness  to  duty  and  the  love  for  our  church. 

But  changes  are  brought  about  as  well  in  the  Kingdom  of  God  as  in 
nature,  and  so,  after  having  enjoyed  the  fruit  of  his  labors  for  a  period 
of  about  two  years,  he  decided  that  a  move  might  prove  advantageous 
to  him  and  his  family.  Having  received  a  call  to  the  pastorate  of  East 
Sveadahl — St.  James,  Minn.,  he  resigned  the  13th  of  December,  1916, 
and  the  congregation  acted  upon  the  resignation  at  the  annual  meeting 
in  January,  1917.  Naturally  the  congregation  felt  reluctant  in  accept¬ 
ing  the  resignation,  in  view  of  the  many  years  of  faithful  service  that 
Pastor  Conrad  had  devoted  to  this  church,  but  feeling  that  God  called 
him  to  another  held  of  activity,  he  was  obedient  unto  this  voice,  and 
hence  preached  his  farewell  sermon  on  the  13th  of  May,  1917,  and  after 
nine  years  and  nine  months  of  successful  labors  departed  on  the  following 
day  for  his  present  held  of  activity. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  of  the  congregation  held  on  January  31, 
1917,  the  congregation  extended  a  unanimous  call  to  the  undersigned 
to  become  Pastor  Conrad’s  successor.  After  due  and  prayerful  con¬ 
sideration,  your  present  pastor  found  it  in  accordance  with  God’s  will 
to  accept  the  call,  and  on  Memorial  Day,  or  the  30th  of  May,  1917, 
came  to  Monmouth  and  preached  the  initial  sermon  on  Sunday,  June  3. 

Sad  as  it  seemed  to  leave  our  held  in  the  great  metropolis,  Chicago, 
we  were  at  once  made  glad  by  the  hearty  welcome  we  received  by  all 
our  people  in  Monmouth,  and  our  earnest  prayer  to  God  is  that  the 
mutual  good  will  and  conhdence  will  always  exist  between  the  congre¬ 
gation  and  the  pastor’s  family,  so  that  our  years  of  labor  may  be  both 
many  and  fruitful  among  you.  We  desire  not  greater  distinction  than 


28 


ANNIVERSARY 


JOHN  E.  STARK.  J.  A.  SWANSON,  Deacon. 

Deacon,  Sexton  and  Treasurer  of  Sunday-school. 


SOUVENIR 


29 


that  we  may  be  counted  worthy  to  he  the  servants  of  Jesus  Christ  to 
the  salvation  of  dearly  bought  souls  entrusted  to  our  care. 

It  would  seem  almost  preposterous  for  your  pastor  to  claim  that  any 
noteworthy  history  had  been  made  during  his  year  and  one-third  of 
activity.  But  what  we  record  we  desire  to  be  to  the  glory  of  God. 
The  congregation  has  rallied  around  the  pastor  with  unusual  devoted¬ 
ness.  Considerable  activity  has  been  manifested  in  all  parts  of  our  ex¬ 
tensive  church  work.  We  have  added  eighty-eight  communicants  and 
twenty-four  children  to  our  membership,  confirmed  the  largest  confirma¬ 
tion  class  in  the  history  of  the  church,  numbering  forty-two,  including 
the  adult  class  of  nine  members. 

In  the  early  part  of  our  pastorate  the  question  of  how  to  rid  our 
church  of  the  $14,000.00  debt,  which  rested  on  the  church  property 
upon  our  arrival,  was  earnestly  considered  by  the  Church  Board,  and 
at  the  very  opportune  moment,  when  we  celebrated  the  400th  anni¬ 
versary  of  the  Reformation,  we  launched  the  campaign  for  cancelling 
the  church  debt.  By  former  subscriptions  it  had  been  reduced  by  that 
time  to  $12,000.00,  so  that  our  aim  was  to  raise  this  amount.  We  raised 
about  half  at  the  initial  attempt,  and  then  we  divided  the  Church  Board 
into  seven  groups,  who,  in  a  systematic  way,  visited  every  member,  and 
the  result  was  that  on  the  30th  of  December  we  had  reached  our  goal. 
The  total  amount  of  indebtedness  had  been  covered  by  promissory  notes, 
cash  or  reliable  promises.  Imagine  the  joy  that  possessed  the  hearts  of 
our  people  when  this  burden  was  lifted !  Though  all  has  not  yet  been 
cashed  in,  it  is  but  a  small  part,  and  we  consider  our  church  at  the 
50th  anniversary  celebration  free  of  all  financial  debt. 

A  Jubilee  Chorus  was  organized  on  July  23,  1917,  with  about  sixty 
voices,  with  the  purpose  in  view  of  rendering  some  suitable  cantata  at 
the  Reformation  festival,  as  well  as  to  be  ready  for  service  at  the  Jubilee 
festivities  of  our  own  church.  This  chorus,  as  well  as  our  choir,  have 
done  excellent  service  in  the  musical  part  of  our  church  work. 

Heeding  the  urgent  call  from  the  headquarters  of  Lutheran  activity 
in  this  country,  a  Brotherhood  was  organized  on  the  17th  of  February, 
1918,  or  rather,  the  former  Men’s  Society  was  revived,  having  now  a 
membership  of  about  one  hundred  members. 

This  organization  headed  the  campaign  for  the  welfare  of  our  Lu¬ 
theran  soldiers  and  sailors,  and  the  result  was  $1,416.00  from  our  con¬ 
gregation.  When  we  consider  how  our  people  have  responded  to  the 
country’s  call  for  money  and  have  given  thirty-three  of  its  sons  to  the 


30 


ANNIVERSARY 


ELMICR  CARLSON,  Trustee. 


SOUVENIR 


3i 


country’s  service  and  liberally  contributed  toward  the  church  debt,  as 
well  as  church  work  in  general,  we  feel  that  our  church  has  been  par¬ 
ticularly  active  during  the  past  year. 

But  the  brightest  side  of  all  is  the  encouraging  fact  that  we  have  had 
large  and  attentive  audiences  at  our  services  and  inspiring  moments  at 
our  large  communion  services.  For  all  these  blessings  we  give  God 
thanks  and  honor. 

To  do  justice  to  individuals,  deserving  of  mention  in  this  kind  of  a 
historical  sketch,  is  impossible.  Men  and  women  have  woven  theii 
lives’  history  into  the  history  of  our  church.  We  cannot,  therefore,  begin 
to  mention  individuals,  except  as  they  have  appeared  on  important  com¬ 
mittees.  But  we  cannot  help  referring  to  the  only  two  living  chartered 
members,  namely,  Mrs.  Anna  Beck  and  Mrs.  Christine  Anderson.  All 
others  have  already  passed  to  their  reward. 

The  following  pastoral  acts  have  been  performed  during  the  past 
fifty  years:  Baptisms  875,  confirmed  405,  married  244,  deaths  146. 

The  congregation  has  contributed  $30,700.55  to  missions  and  other 
benevolent  causes,  $129,884.87  to  local  purposes.  Total  $160,585.42. 
The  church  property  is  now  valued  at  $65,000.00. 

The  total  membership  is  to-day  610  communicants  and  162  children, 
or  772  members. 

To  prophesy  the  future  events  of  our  church  for  the  next  fifty  years 
is  beyond  human  power.  We  know  not  what  God  may  have  in  store 
for  us.  But  we  are  certain  and  we  do  believe  that  He  shall  guide  us 
in  the  future  “to  pastures  green  and  beside  the  still  waters.’’  That  His 
unfailing  hand  of  providence  will  mark  our  pathway  and  that,  if  we 
“be  faithful  unto  death,  He  shall  give  us  the  crown  of  life.”. 

My  church!  my  church!  my  dear  old  church! 

My  fathers’  and  my  own! 

On  Prophets  and  Apostles  built, 

And  Christ  the  corner  stone ! 

All  else  beside,  by  storm  or  tide, 

May  vet  be  overthrown; 

But  not  my  church,  my  dear  old  church, 

My  fathers’  and  my  own ! 

My  church!  my  church!  my  dear  old  church! 

1  love  her  ancient  name ; 

And  God  forbid,  a  child  of  hers 
Should  ever  do  her  shame! 


32 


ANNIVERSARY 


OHAS.  ISAACSON,  Trustee.  \  A  j0IINSON,  Trustee, 

Treasurer  of  Congregation  and  Lutheran  Brotherhood. 


SOUVENIR 


33 


H  er  mother-care,  I’ll  ever  share; 

H  er  child  I  am  alone, 

Till  He  who  gave  me  to  her  arms 
Shall  call  me  to  His  own. 

My  church!  my  church!  I  love  my  church, 

For  she  doth  lead  me  on 
To  Zion’s  Palace  Beautiful, 

Where  Christ  my  Lord  hath  gone, 

From  all  below,  she  bids  me  go, 

To  Him,  the  Life,  the  Way, 

The  Truth  to  guide  my  erring  feet 
From  darkness  into  day. 

Monmouth,  Illinois,  September  15,  1918. 

Oscar  Purn,  Pastor. 


\ 


34 


ANNIVERSARY 


NEWMAN,  Trustee.  Fit  El)  I,.  NELSON,  Trustee. 


BYGGANDET  PA  DEN  LAGDA 

GRUNDEN 

“ Efter  den  Guds  ndd ,  so/n  blifvit  mig  gifven,  liar  jag,  sasom  en  vis 
byggmdstare,  lagt  grunden,  och  en  annan  bygger  ddrpa;  men  hvar  och 
en  md  se  till,  huru  han  bygger  ddrpa.  Ty  en  annan  grund  kan  ingen 
lagga  an  den  som  dr  lagd,  hvilken  dr  Jesus  Kristus.  Aden  om  nagon  pa 
denna  grund  bygger  med  guld,  silfver,  dyrbara  stenar,  tra,  ho,  eller  strd, 
sa  skall  hvars  och  ens  verk  blifva  uppenbart ,  ty  dagen  skall  gdra  det 
klart,  emedan  han  skall  uppenbaras  med  eld,  och  elden  skall  profva, 
hurudant  hvars  och  ens  verk  dr.  Om  det  verk,  som  nagon  har  byggi 
ddrpa,  varder  bestdende,  skall  han  fa  Ion.  Aden  varder  ndgons  verk  for- 
brandt,  sa  skall  han  gd  miste  om  den  ;  men  sjdlf  skall  han  varda  fralst , 
dock  sasom  genom  eld."  i  Kor.  3:  10 — 15. 

Alskade  forsamling! 

EMEDAN  jag  blifvit  ombedd  af  eder  pastor  att  skrifva  nagra  ord 
for  eder  minnesskrift  ofver  ofvan  angifna  amne,  vill  jag  soka 
efterkomma  denna  hans  vanliga  begaran.  Min  tioariga  vistelse 
bland  eder  i  Monmouth  kannetecknades  af  rastlos  verksamhet.  Det 
var  dock  lyckliga  ar  jag  tillbringade  dar.  Gud  valsignade  vara  handers 
verk.  Och  med  fa  undantag  stod  forsamlingen  alltid  som  ett  helt  pa 
min  sida.  Nastan  i  hvarje  fall  fick  jag  min  vilja  fram,  fastiin  det  emel- 
lanat  hiinde,  att  en  och  annan  satte  sig  pa  tvaren.  Sedan  jag  under  bon 
till  Gud  blifvit  ofvertygad  om  det  rattmatiga  uti  en  sak,  sa  hangaf  jag 
mig  med  all  min  energi  och  hela  min  sj al  uti  genomdrifvandet  och  ut- 
forandet  af  densamma,  i  trots  af  hvad  eller  hvem  som  an  stod  i  vagen. 
Och  da  jag  nu  ser  tillbaka  uppa  det  hela,  sa  fattar  jag  mer  an  nagonsin 
att  om  jag  icke  sa  gjort,  sa  kunde  jag  val  ha  varit  van  med  en  och  annan, 
som  visade  mig  inte  sa  lite  afvoghet,  men  mycket  litet  hade  da  blifvit 
utfordt  af  det,  som  verkligen  blef  gjordt.  Eusende  minnen  uppdyka 
for  mitt  sinne  vid  tanken  uppa  min  verksamhetstid  i  Monmouth  — 
minnen  utaf  bade  med-  och  motgang,  af  bade  gladje  och  sorg.  Och  jag 


36 


ANNIVERSARY 


J.  \V.  I’KAItSON,  v-  A-  STA11K, 

Trustee  and  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  Trustee  and  Secretary  of  Church  Board. 


SOUVENIR 


37 


tackar  bade  Gud  och  forsamlingen  for  bade  det  ena  och  det  andra.  Fick 
jag  under  de  aren  vara  till  nagon  nytta  uti  forsamlingsverksamheten, 
sa  tackar  jag  odmjukt  min  trofaste  Friilsare  darfor.  For  all  karlek, 
valvilja,  tillmotesgaende,  talamod  och  ofverseende,  som  jag  var  foremal 
for,  tackar  jag  eder,  iilskade  forsamlingsmedlemmar,  af  hela  mitt  hjarta. 

Den  forsta  sondagen  i  September  1907  holl  jag  min  intradespredikan, 
och  den  andra  sondagen  i  maj  1918  predikade  jag  afsked.  Sent  kom- 
mer  jag  att  glomma  den  senare  dagen.  Da  blef  det  klart  for  mig  och 
de  mina,  kanske  mer  an  nagonsin,  att  vi  hade  manga  uppriktiga,  till  - 
gifna  och  trofasta  vanner  i  Monmouth.  Af  principskiil  har  jag  icke 
statt  i  nagon  forbindelse  med  forsamlingen,  sedan  jag  afflyttade;  ty  jag 
har  den  ofvertygelsen,  att  sedan  en  pastor  afflyttat  fran  en  forsamling, 
bor  han  icke  hlanda  sig  i  forsamlingsverksamheten  darstiides. 

Det  tillkommer  nu  icke  mig  att  har  skrifva  en  historik  ofver  forsam- 
lingens  1  if  och  verksamhet  under  de  ar  jag  vistades  i  Monmouth.  Den 
kommer  att  skrifvas  af  en  annan  penna,  och  jag  skall  darfor  icke  saga 
nagot  darom.  Jag  skall  i  stallet  soka  halla  mig  till  det  amne  som  ar 
mig  anvisadt:  “ Byggandet  pa  den  lagda  grunden.” 

Uti  de  ofvan  anforda  bibelorden  sager  oss  aposteln  Paulus,  att  den 
kyrkliga  verksamheten  ar,  i  bade  inre  och  yttre  bemarkelse,  ett  byg- 
gande.  Grunden  ar  lagd  af  Gud  sjiilf.  “En  annan  grund  kan  ingen 
liigga  an  den  som  ar  lagd,  hvilken  ar  Jesus  Kristus.  Allt  byggnads- 
arbete,  som  icke  utfores  pa  den  grunden,  ar  fruktlost,  huru  vackert  det 
an  ma  se  ut.  Det  som  ar  byggdt  pa  sanden,  det  faller,  niir  vindarna 
borja  blasa  och  slagregnet  stortar  fram.  Ingenting  ar  viktigare  an  att 
vi  tillse,  att  vi  hygga  pa  en  fast  och  saker  grundval.  Men  hafva  vi  en 
solid  grundval,  sa  kunna  vi  tryggt  borja  vart  hyggnadsarbete. 

Det  ar  dock,  enligt  apostelns  ord,  icke  nog  med  att  man  bygger,  utan 
man  maste  se  till,  huru  man  bygger.  Manga  synas  tro,  att  bara  de  iiro 
verksamma  i  det  kyrkliga  arbetet,  sa  gor  det  detsamma,  hvad  de  gora 
eller  huru  de  gora  det.  Om  mycken  s.  k.  kyrklig  verksamhet  kan  man 
darfor  sannerligen  saga  sasom  gumman  sade,  som  klippte  grisen :  “Myc- 
ket  viisen  och  lite  nil.”  Man  springer  hit  och  dit  och  pratar  och  fjaskar 
med  folk,  men  da  man  borjar  undersoka  hvad  som  blifvit  utrattadt,  sa 
finner  man  —  ingenting. 

Byggnaden  maste  i  allt  ofverensstamma  med  grundvalen.  Den  far 
icke  vara  hvarken  storre  eller  mindre.  Ritningarna  for  hela  byggnaden 
iiro  gjorda  af  den  store  arkitekten,  Gud  sjalf,  som  lagt  grundvalen. 
Dessa  ritningar  eller  planer  har  han  ofverlamnat  at  oss  med  uppmaning 


38 


ANNIVERSARY 


AUIj  SWANSON,  trustee.  Assistant  Manager  of  “Ystr  Korsamlin 


SOUVENIR 


39 


att  folja  dem  noggrant.  Och  skola  vi  lyckas  uti  vart  byggnadsarbete, 
sa  maste  vi  folja  dessa  ritningar  och  det  i  minsta  detaljer.  Vi  komma 
visserligen  uti  arbetet  att  sammantraffa  med  sadana,  som  skola  finna 
manga  fel  med  dessa  ritningar  och  som  hafva  nya  sadana,  hvilka  de 
komma  att  insistera  pa  att  vi  skola  folja.  De  komma  iifvensa  att  pa- 
peka,  att  det  icke  atminstone  ar  nodvandigt  att  i  sma  detaljer  folja  de 
drir,  enligt  deras  mening,  utslitna  och  gammalmodiga  planerna.  “Vi 
aro  ju  fria  varelser,  och  vi  bora  val  folja  med  var  tid”,  ropas  det  if  ran 
alia  hall.  Men  den  som  lyssnar  till  dessa 
ord  och  foljer  deras  “moderna”  planer,  han 
skall  forr  eller  senare  se  sig  grufligt  bedra- 
gen.  Guds  ord  dr  den  enda  regeln  och 
rattesnoret  for  manniskans  tro  och  lefverne. 

Det  ar  afvensa  af  storsta  vikt  att  vi  tiro 
pa  var  vakt,  da  det  galler  val  af  det  mate¬ 
rial,  som  vi  skola  begagna  oss  utaf  uti  vart 
byggande.  Det  finnes  ett  berg,  men  blott 
ett,  som  Gud  sj  alf  skapat  och  som  han  han- 
visat  oss  till,  ur  hvilket  han  vill,  att  vi  skola 
taga  alia  byggnadsmaterialierna  for  var  sa- 
lighetsbyggnad.  Det  berget  ar  outtomligt. 

Dar  finnes  guld,  silfver  och  dvrbara  stenar 
i  mangd.  Och  de  fas  dar  fritt  och  for  intet 
af  hvar  och  en,  som  kommer  for  att  hamta 
dem.  Visserligen  hora  vi  fran  hoger  och 
vanster:  “for  gammalt”,  afven  nar  det  gal- 
ler  byggnadsmaterialierna.  Man  tror  sig 
hafva  f unnit  nya  byggnadsamnen,  som  of- 

vertraffa  de  dar  gamla.  Ja,  hvad  bjudas  vi  icke  pa  fran  predikstolarna 
i  vara  dagar  har  och  dar !  Det  ar  en  evig  skam,  att  det  skall  finnas 
sa  manga,  som  annu  forsoka  att  uppfora  en  salighetsbyggnad  utaf  tra, 
ho  och  stra,  nar  det  finnes  sa  godt  om  guld,  silfver  och  dvrbara  stenar. 

Det  ar  af  evighetsbetydelse  att  vi  se  till,  huru  och  af  hvad  materialier 
vi  bygga,  ty,  siiger  aposteln,  “elden  skall  prdfva,  hurudant  hvars  och  ens 
verk  ar.  Om  det  verk,  som  nagon  har  bvggt  darpa,  varder  bestaende, 
skall  han  fa  Ion,  men  varder  nagons  verk  forbrandt,  sa  skall  han  ga 
miste  om  den.”  Hvilka  allvarliga  ord!  Vart  byggnadsarbete  skall  en 
dag  afsynas  af  den  store,  riittfardige  och  allvetande  Byggmastaren. 
“Dagen  skall  gdra  det  klart."  Ja,  dagen,  den  stora,  afgorande,  domens 


PROF.  CARL  ALEXIS, 
Organist. 


40 


ANNIVERSARY 


OSCAR  MATSON,  WM.  II.  OLSON, 

Scxton-  Treasurer  of  Building  Fund. 


SOUVENIR 


4i 


dag.  Nu  iir  det  sa  mycket,  som  kan  dolja  vart  arbete.  Men  pa  den 
dagen  aro  alia  stallningarna  nedrifna,  och  vart  verk  star  dar  sadant  som 
det  i  verkligheten  iir.  Den,  som  med  trohet  och  nit  och  talamod  sokt 
gora  sitt  basta,  kan  med  frimodighet  och  hopp  se  framat  mot  den  dagen  ; 
ty  dar  skall  icke  hans  arbete  underkiinnas,  som  kanske  ofta  skedde  har. 
Men  den  som  i  s.ialfsvald  och  egennytta  har  byggt  enligt  sina  egna  pla¬ 
ner  och  sin  egen  vilja,  han  maste  se  framat  mot  den  dagen  med  biifvan 

och  forskriickelse,  ty  dar  skall  han 
icke  kunna  dolja  sitt  arbete  bakom 
vare  sig  det  ena  eller  det  andra, 
som  han  ofta  lyckades  gora  har. 

Vi  kunna  val  icke  tiinka  oss  na- 

got  storre  och  harligare  har  pa 
jorden  an  det,  att  vi  arma,  synd- 

fulla  varelser  fa  vara  Guds  med- 
hjalpare,  fa  vara  med  uti  arbetet 
pa  Guds  eviga  tempelbyggnad. 

Hjalpe  oss  Herren,  att  vi  alia  ma 
skota  var  kallelse  och  var  uppgift 
sa,  att  niir  var  arbetsdag  iir  slut, 
vi  ma  fa  det  betyget :  “Val,  du 
gode  och  trogne  tjanare;  i  ringa 
ting  har  du  varit  trogen ;  jag  skall 
siitta  dig  dfver  mycket ;  ga  in  i  din 
Herres  gliidje.” 

“Och  honom,  som  format*  gora  utofver  allt,  vida  mer  an  vi  begiira 
eller  tiinka,  efter  den  kraft  som  verkar  i  oss,  honom  vare  iira  i  forsam- 
lingen  genom  Jesus  Kristus  ibland  alia  sliikten  i  evigheters  evighet. 
Amen.” 

St.  James,  Minnesota,  i  juli  1918. 

Vordsamt, 


Titus  A.  Conrad. 


42 


ANNIVERSARY 


OSC.'A K  STU A N 1  >, 


SUNDAY-SCHOOL 


WITHOUT  a  doubt  the  father  of  the  Sunday-school  in  its 
modern  form  is  Robert  Raikes.  He  gathered  together  the 
destitute  children  of  Gloucester  into  classes  on  the  Lord’s  Day 
for  the  purpose  of  teaching  them.  His  object  was  to  keep  them  off  the 
streets  and  teach  them  how  to  read  and  write,  so  that  they  might  make 
good  citizens.  He  simply  intended  to  do  the  children  good.  In  the  year 
1780  he  engaged  the  assistance  of  a  Mrs.  King  and  secured  her  for  his 
first  teacher  at  a  salary  of  one  shilling  and  six  pence  (36  cents)  per 
Sunday. 

But  history  proves  that  Sunday-school  work  commenced  long  before 
Mr.  Raikes’  time.  Sunday-school  work  has  continued  through  parents 
and  religious  teachers  for  thousands  of  years.  Abraham  gave  religious 
instruction  to  his  household,  and  whether  this  instruction  was  given  on 
the  Sabbath  Day  or  not,  we  do  not  know,  but  it  is  evident  that  the 
content  was  the  same  as  the  instruction  in  the  modern  Sunday-school. 
When  Christ  was  on  earth  it  was  the  custom  of  the  Jews  to  worship 
in  their  synagogues  on  the  Sabbath  and  to  instruct  in  the  afternoon  in 
the  “law  and  prophets.”  Both  old  and  young  attended,  while  the  Rabbi 
was  their  instructor.  It  served  to  keep  alive  their  consciousness  of 
Jehovah  and  His  law.  We  know  that  Christ  was  interested  in  Sunday- 
school  work  from  such  instances  as  His  blessing  little  children  and 
putting  a  child  in  the  midst  of  His  disciples. 

Later,  when  Christianity  entered  Europe,  one  of  the  main  factors  in 
establishing  it  was  the  religious  training.  Of  course,  during  the  Middle 
Ages  all  church  life  was  demoralized,  and  the  instruction  of  the  youth 
suffered  with  the  other  Christian  activities.  Then  came  the  wonderful 
Reformation  period,  and  the  very  first  thing  Luther  did  was  to  recognize 
the  deplorable  ignorance  of  the  common  people  in  spiritual  things,  and 
to  overcome  this  he  prepared  his  two  catechisms  to  aid  in  their  instruc¬ 
tion.  His  small  catechism  is  considered  one  of  the  best  books  ever  writ- 


44 


ANNIVERSARY 


SUNDAY-SCHOOL  TEACHERS. 


SOUVENIR 


45 


ten  for  the  religious  instruction  of  children.  After  centuries,  it  is  more 
popular  to-day  than  at  any  time  in  its  history.  Before  Luther’s  time 
church  membership  was  a  mere  formality,  but  with  the  rise  of  cate¬ 
chetical  instruction  the  people  learned  to  know  the  doctrines  and  were 
able  to  give  reason  for  the  faith  they  professed.  The  system  thus  intro¬ 
duced  has  spread  over  the  world,  and  the  modern  Sunday-school  owes 
its  breadth  and  development  to  this  work  of  Luther. 

Luther  had  very  definite  and  practical  views  about  catechization  and 
laid  down  the  following  principles:  Catechetical  instruction  must  he 
attended  to  in  the  family,  school  and  church.  The  same  text  and  form 
of  words  should  be  retained.  There  ought  to  be  a  proper  and  regular 
graduation  in  the  course  of  instruction  ;  first  the  text  of  the  principal 
parts ;  then  the  explanation ;  then  the  progress  from  the  Small  to  the 
Large  catechism.  The  aim  of  such  instruction  must  be  not  simply  a 
knowledge  of  doctrine,  but  a  personal  conviction  of  faith.  The  cate¬ 
chism  was  to  be  a  life  book,  a  prayer  book. 

The  first  Lutheran  Sunday-school  in  America  was  organized  in  St. 
John’s  Church,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  in  1821.  To-day  every  Lutheran 
church  has  a  Sunday-school,  for  the  Sunday-school  has  come  to  stay,  and 
it  is  time  that  we  consider  it  seriously.  We  must  study  the  question 
thoroughly  and  intelligently  and  then  go  to  our  problems  and  make  the 
school  what  it  should  be,  a  religious  school  in  every  sense  of  the  word. 

Perhaps  you  have  heard  people  say  that  the  Sunday-school  is  a  chil¬ 
dren’s  church.  Those  who  have  this  idea  are  mistaken  in  their  views. 
The  Sunday-school  is  a  service,  but  not  a  church.  "The  Sunday-school 
teaches  the  Gospel,  but  it  does  not  have  the  Sacraments,  and  hence  it  is 
not  a  church.  It  is  only  a  part  of  the  church.  The  erroneous  idea  of 
the  Sunday-school  being  a  children’s  church  has  done  much  to  bring 
about  the  present  deplorable  condition  of  the  work.  Children  have  been 
led  to  believe  that  when  they  have  attended  the  Sunday-school,  they 
have  fulfilled  their  whole  religious  duty,  and  consequently  they  have  not 
been  trained  to  attend  the  church  service. 

Neither  does  the  Lutheran  look  upon  his  Sunday-school  as  preemi¬ 
nently  an  evangelizing  agency.  His  conception  of  the  preaching  of  the 
Word  of  God  and  his  doctrines  of  the  ministry  forbid  such  a  view.  God 
has  appointed  and  ordained  the  office  of  the  ministry  for  this  special 
purpose,  and  this  is  His  evangelizing  agency.  The  Lutheran  Sunday- 
school  is  a  teaching  service — a  place  where  the  whole  congregation  meets 
for  instruction. 


46 


ANNIVERSARY 


ARVID  V.  PETERSON.  LESLIE  C.  JOHNSON, 

Sunday-school  Superintendent  and  Assistant  Editor  of  “V&r  FSrsamling.”  Secretary  of  Sunday-school. 


SOUVENIR 


47 


The  aims  of  the  Lutheran  Sunday-school  are,  first  of  all,  the  teaching 
of  God’s  Word.  Also  to  bring  the  child  to  a  conscious  knowledge  of 
his  relation  to  his  Saviour  and  the  development  of  a  Christian  character. 
The  baptized  child  is  a  Christian,  but  he  has  not  yet  developed  a  Chris¬ 
tian  character.  He  is  liable  to  be  led  into  sin,  and  hence  the  Sunday- 
school  strives  to  build  up  his  Christian  character  and  fortify  him  against 
sin.  But  to  send  a  child  to  Sunday-school  does  not  relieve  the  parents 
of  the  obligation  of  teaching  the  child  at  home.  The  earliest  method  of 
religious  instruction  was  that  of  the  home,  and  nothing  has  been  dis¬ 
covered  that  will  surpass  it.  This  being  so,  the  Sunday-school  cannot 
be  depended  upon  entirely  for  the  building  of  Christian  character. 
Instead  of  freeing  the  parent  from  his  obligation,  the  Sunday-school  seeks 
to  aid  him  so  that  he  may  accomplish  greater  results. 

Concerning  the  work  and  progress  of  the  Lutheran  Sunday-school  in 
Monmouth,  Illinois,  during  the  past  fifty  years,  statistics  show  that  the 
Sunday-school  has  grown  steadily  in  accordance  with  the  increasing 
church  membership.  The  congregation  is  situated  in  a  church  going 
community,  where  there  are  churches  of  almost  every  denomination  in 
the  city,  and  for  this  reason  there  has  been  but  a  small  percent  of  those 
attending  our  Sunday-school  whose  parents  are  not  members  of  the 
church. 

A  graded  course  of  Sunday-school  instruction  is  now  used  in  our 
church  which  cannot  be  excelled.  Luther’s  catechism  is,  of  course,  the 
foundation  upon  which  the  training  is  based,  and  is  used  in  all  classes 
of  the  Intermediate  Department.  There  are  six  grades  in  the  Inter¬ 
mediate  Department,  three  in  the  Primary  Department,  besides  the 
Cradle  Roll.  The  Bible  classes  consist  of  the  Confirmation,  Young 
Women,  Young  Men  and  Older  Folks  classes. 

Our  Sunday-school  was  organized  as  early  as  in  the  year  1870  with 
a  membership  of  about  10.  At  the  time  of  our  40th  anniversary  cele¬ 
bration  we  had  an  enrollment  of  117.  And  now  when  we  commemorate 
the  50th  anniversary  of  the  organization  of  our  congregation,  the  enroll¬ 
ment  has  reached  the  250  mark.  For  the  bountiful  blessings  of  God 
in  caring  for  His  lambs  within  the  Sunday-school  we  give  Him  thanks. 

A.  V.  Peterson. 


48 


ANNIVERSARY 


SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 


SOUVENIR 


49 


SWEDISH  BIBLE  CLASS 


50 


ANNIVERSARY 


BETI  IPIIA(»E  BIBLE  CLASS. 


SOUVENIR 


5i 


U.  ILL.  u<  o. 


SOUVENIR 


53 


CRADLE  ROLL 


Top  Row — Frank  Olson,  Edith  Wise,  Evelyn  Linman,  Francis  Nord¬ 
strom,  Helen  Anderson,  Gertrude  Anderson. 

Second  Row — Orville  Bertelsen,  Helen  Nelson,  Marie  Nelson,  Earl 
Peterson,  Edith  Carlson,  Helen  Martin. 

Third  Roiv — Herbert  Themanson,  Marjory  Burk,  Mrs.  Oscar  Purn, 
Glen  Anderson,  Mrs.  Chas.  Dahlgren,  Evelyn  Anderson,  James 
Swanson. 

Fourth  Row — Louise  Holmberg,  Leonard  Melburg,  Lucile  Johnson, 
Linnea  Johnson,  Mary  Lovedahl. 

Fifth  Row — Bertha  Williamson,  Lucile  Stark,  Elizabeth  Benson,  Ber¬ 
nice  Harchelrod,  Raphael  Matson,  Donald  Strand. 

Sixth  Row — Armand  Olson,  Benjamin  Mills,  Melvin  Bragd,  Verner 
Bergren,  Bernice  Martin,  Luther  Linman. 

Seventh  Row — Lucile  Peterson,  Herbert  Peterson,  Evelyn  Martin, 
Ralph  Martin,  Laurence  Isaacson. 


Members  of  Cradle  Roll  not  appearing  in  picture : 


Andrew  Bertelson 
George  Bertelson 
Arthur  Dodson 
Agnes  Flod 
Evert  Flod 
Charlie  Hanson 
Ralph  Hanson 
Evelyn  Hoy 
M  arie  H  anson 


Kenneth  Hallberg 
Earl  Isaacson 
Anita  Krog. 

Matilda  Jane  Lovedahl 
Gladys  Murk 
Edith  Ryner 
Christine  Scott 
Louise  Tinder 
Marie  Westfield 


PAROCHIAL  SCHOOL 

OUR  LORD  commands  His  Church  not  only  to  feed  His  sheep, 
but  also  to  feed  His  lambs.  There  can  be  no  proper  and  ef¬ 
ficient  child  training  unless  it  is  in  the  nurture  and  admonition 
of  the  Lord.  Not  only  do  the  mental  and  moral  faculties  of  the  child 
need  development,  but  also  the  religious  and  spiritual.  As  a  man  think- 
eth  in  his  heart,  so  is  he.  In  order  best  to  accomplish  this  end  it  is 
necessary  to  have  the  child  under  the  care  of  the  Church  at  all  times. 
In  the  nature  of  the  case  and  because  of  the  complex  religious  status  of 
the  teaching  force  of  the  Public  School  it  is  impossible  to  furnish  the 
religious  and  moral  training  such  as  the  Church  deems  necessary  through 
the  present  system  of  education  in  this  country.  Our  Lutheran  Church 
has  fully  realized  this,  and  when  the  otherwise  splendid  religious  in¬ 
struction  given  in  the  Sunday-school  has  not  been  sufficient,  she  has  not 
failed  to  introduce  the  Parochial  School.  The  main  object  of  this  schoo1 
must  always  be  considered  as  being  religious  instruction.  But  because 
of  the  fact  that  our  Lutheran  churches  in  this  country  have  in  the  past 
used  the  mother-tongue  in  the  worship  of  God  and  all  church  life,  it  has 
become  a  secondary  necessity  to  instruct  the  children  in  the  language 
used  by  their  parents  as  soul-language  in  divine  worship.  This  has  also 
been  the  experience  in  our  church  until  this  summer.  Swedish  has  been 
the  medium  of  instruction  in  Parochial  School  almost  entirely  until  the 
last  few  years.  We  are  proud,  and  justly  so,  in  being  able  to  teach  our 
children  the  beautiful  tongue  of  the  Northland,  but  we  are  still  more 
thankful  to  God  that  when  this  is,  as  it  seems,  a  thing  of  the  past,  we 
yet  have  the  privilege  of  indoctrinating  our  youth  in  the  faith  of  the 
fathers  in  a  language  which  to  them  will  always  be  their  heart-language, 
and  thus  perpetuate  true  Lutheranism  in  this  land  of  our  adoption  or 
nativity.  This  we  believe  to  be  the  mission  of  the  Parochial  School  in 
the  future,  and  we  hope  to  be  able  to  maintain  such  a  school  in  years  to 
come,  even  though  the  medium  of  instruction  be  English. 


SOUVENIR 


55 


The  Swedish  has  served  a  noble  purpose,  and  many  there  are  who  are 
thankful  for  their  past  privileges.  Others  will  in  the  future  thank  God 
for  opportunities  afforded  them  under  different  conditions.  The  Parochial 
School  together  with  the  Sunday-school  have  been  the  nursery  of  the 
Church.  The  boys  and  girls  of  to-day  are  the  men  and  women  of  to¬ 
morrow.  H  ence  the  equipment  will  help  them  to  fill  their  places  both 
in  the  Church  and  State.  Those  who  labored  faithfully  to  maintain 
these  schools  shall  also  in  due  season  get  their  reward  by  grateful  ac¬ 
knowledgment  of  the  benefits  received  by  the  living  and  by  happy  recep¬ 
tion  in  “eternal  habitations”  by  the  departed,  who  in  the  time  of  grace 
were  the  recipients  of  this  religious  training. 

We  submit  from  our  records  the  names  of  those  who  have  been  en¬ 
gaged  as  teachers  in  our  Parochial  School  from  the  year  1872  until  the 


present  time. 

They  are  as  follows : 

1872-73 

Catechist  N.  Nordling. 

1874 

Pastor  A.  W.  Holmgren. 

1877 

Pastor  Elias  Petterson. 

1879-81 

Student  L.  Swenson. 

1882 

Student  Gustaf  Petterson. 

1883 

Student  C.  E.  Elving. 

1884 

Student  G.  A.  Brandelle. 

1885-87 

Pastor  J.  E.  Floren. 

1888 

Student  James  Moody. 

1889 

Pastor  August  Johnson. 

1890 

Student  P.  S.  Miller. 

1891 

Student  G.  Forsberg. 

1894 

Student  C.  A.  Larson. 

1895 

Pastor  August  Johnson. 

1898 

Student  G.  A.  Fahlund. 

1901 

Anna  Elison. 

1903 

Student  G.  S.  Swensson. 

1904 

Student  Paul  Johnson. 

1905-06 

Anna  Johnson. 

1907 

Mary  Hagman. 

1908 

Pastor  T.  A.  Conrad. 

1909 

Student  C.  O.  Bengtson. 

1910 

Pastor  T.  A.  Conrad. 

1 9 1 1 

Pastor  Conrad  and  Student  A.  W.  Johnson. 

1913 

Pastor  T.  A.  Conrad. 

1914 

Prof.  J.  E.  Swanson. 

1915 

Student  F.  W.  Hanson. 

1916 

Student  Luther  Benson. 

1917 

Gerda  Hiller. 

1918 

Student  T.  L.  Rydbeck. 

56 


ANNIVERSARY 


CONFIRMATION  CLASS  18!)!). 


CONFIRMATION 

Heavenly  Father, 

Praised  be  Thy  mercy! 

Thou  wilt  not  reject  us, 

For  Thou  hast  chosen  us  Thine  heirs  forever. 

Thou  wilt  e’er  protect  us 

That  from  Thy  covenant  we  part,  no,  never. 

Teach  us,  O  Father,  seek  for  Thy  kingdom! 

Jesus,  our  Saviour! 

Grant  us  Thy  Spirit. 

Carnal  pleasures  tempt  us ; 

Our  faith,  as  gold,  is  tested  in  the  furnace. 

Lord,  do  Thou  exempt  us 

That  naught  from  Thy  communion  e’er  may  turn  us. 

Help  us  to  strive  and  live  for  Thy  kingdom! 

Comforting  Spirit! 

Clothe  us  with  power! 

Thou  alone  canst  arm  us 

That  in  defeat  our  souls  may  never  perish. 

Ill  can  never  harm  us, 

If  Thee  till  life’s  last  hour  we  fondly  cherish, 

Winning,  at  last,  Thy  heavenly  kingdom! 

WHEN  our  resurrected  Lord  and  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ,  insti¬ 
tuted  the  sacrament  of  the  Holy  Baptism,  He  not  only  gave 
to  the  Christian  Church  the  all-embracing  command  to  baptize 
all  nations,  but  to  teach  them  all  things  whatsoever  He  had  commanded 
them.  From  this  we  learn  that  those  who  have  been  baptized  and 
through  baptism  have  become  the  disciples  and  followers  of  Jesus  Christ 
shall  be  taught  by  the  Church  to  “observe,”  that  is  to  keep  before  their 
minds  and  cherish  in  their  hearts  all  the  promises  of  God  contained  in 
the  blessed  sacrament  administered  to  them  in  early  infancy.  This 
sacred  obligation  the  Lutheran  Church  has  sought  to  fulfill  in  ages  past. 


5§ 


ANNIVERSARY 


i  ON L’IRMATION  CLASS  1901. 

Fir, si  Ho ir  Oscar  Moline,  Florence  Marlin,  Esther  Hanson,  Ernest  Miller. 

Second  I’ow  Win.  Ahlstrand,  Malinda  Carlson,  Herman  Uunhurn’,  Pearl  Martin,  Arthur  I’almhcr: 
Third  How-  Emily  Carlson,  Emily  Ahlstrand,  Edith  Stark,  Oscar  Strand. 


SOUVENIR 


59 


She  has  always  had  a  great  confidence  in  religious  knowledge  as  being 
the  best  means  keeping  the  lambs  of  Christ’s  fold  upon  the  right  path¬ 
way.  She  has  sought  to  give  this  religious  training  in  the  home,  in  the 
parochial  and  Sunday-schools,  and  her  experience  has  been  that  this  has 
been  a  safe  method  of  leading  the  young  to  Christ  and  of  establishing 
them  in  the  Word  of  God.  She  fully  realizes  that  as  the  baptized 
children  grow  in  years  and  understanding,  they  should  be  brought  to  a 
living  knowledge  of  the  saving  grace  bestowed  upon  them  through  the 
water  and  the  Word.  They  are  to  be  carefully  nurtured  and  trained, 
so  that  they  may  be  made  partakers  of  this  grace,  and  value  it  as  a  price¬ 
less  heritage,  and  live  their  lives  in  grateful  obedience  to  the  will  of  God, 
as  is  befitting  His  baptized  sons  and  daughters  and  the  members  of  His 
Church  in  general. 

Let  me  call  your  attention  to  the  nature  of  this  sacred  rite.  Confirma¬ 
tion  is  not  a  sacrament,  neither  is  it  supplementary  to  Baptism,  nor  is  it 
a  renewal  of  Baptism,  but  it  is  a  ratification  of  the  solemn  covenant 
obligations  to  God  through  infant  Baptism.  It  is  an  act  of  confession 
and  a  pledge  on  the  part  of  the  person  confirmed.  It  is  a  confirming, 
strengthening  and  establishing  of  the  catechumen  in  Grace  primarily 
through  the  means  of  Grace,  the  Word  and  the  Sacraments.  Hence 
the  rite  of  confirmation  is  one  of  deep  significance  to  our  children  who 
have  received  the  sacrament  of  the  Holy  Baptism.  It  is  a  golden  oppor¬ 
tunity  to  make  public  confession  of  their  Christian  faith  in  the  presence 
of  God  and  His  Church. 

What,  then,  do  they  confess?  In  the  first  place  they  confess  that,  by 
virtue  of  the  Baptism,  it  is  their  earnest  purpose  to  remain  steadfast  in 
this  faith  unto  the  end,  and,  as  Christ’s  followers,  walk  by  faith  in  a  new 
life,  and  to  love  the  Lord  their  God  above  all  things  and  their  neighbor 
as  themselves. 

Secondly,  they  promise  and  confess  that  by  the  help  of  God,  in  watch¬ 
fulness  and  prayer,  they  will  diligently  use  the  Word  of  God  and  faith¬ 
fully  seek  their  Saviour  in  His  Holy  Supper. 

Thirdly,  they  promise  and  confess  that  they  will  shun  all  false  doc¬ 
trines,  and  he  faithful  to  the  Word  of  God  according  to  our  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Confession. 

After  this  confession  by  the  confirmands,  the  pastor  and  the  whole 
congregation  unite  in  fervent  intercessory  prayers  for  these  young  sons 
and  daughters,  to  whom  they  now  extend  a  loving  invitation  henceforth 


6o 


ANNIVERSARY 


CONFIRMATION  CLASS  1902. 

First  Row — Henry  Holcomb,  Helen  llagman,  Anna  Johnson,  Henry  Peterson,  Clara  Miller,  Ililma  Matson,  Elmer  Johnson. 
Second  How — Anna  Sanderholm,  Arthur  Murk,  Carl  Lindegren,  Mable  Ekstrom. 

Third  Row — Arthur  Melburg,  Hannah  Hambcrg,  Edith  Matson,  Alice  Palmberg,  Nelly  Themanson,  Rudolph  Runberg. 


SOUVENIR 


61 

to  share  with  them  the  sacrament  of  the  true  body  and  blood  of  Jesus 
Christ,  our  Lord, — the  holy  of  holies  in  the  Christian  Church. 

Picture  to  yourself  this  beautiful  act  of  confirmation.  We  will  let 
the  words  of  Dr.  Gerberding  convey  to  you  this  scene.  “The  catechumen 
has  been  examined  by  the  pastor  as  to  his  fitness  for  this  important  step. 
The  pastor  has  found  that  he  possesses  an  intelligent  understanding  of 
the  doctrines  taught  in  the  Catechism,  and  that  the  experience  of  his 
heart  bears  witness  to  their  truth  and  power.  On  this  account  he  is 
adjudged  as  fit  and  well  prepared  to  be  admitted  to  the  holy  communion. 
H  e  now  comes  of  his  own  accord — not  because  he  is  old  enough,  or 
because  father,  mother,  or  pastor  wants  him  to — before  the  altar  of 
Christ.  There,  in  the  presence  of  the  assembled  congregation  and  the 
all-seeing  God,  his  lips  confess  the  faith  of  his  heart,  the  faith  into  which 
he  was  baptized  as  a  child.  He  now  voluntarily  takes  upon  himself  the 
vows  and  promises  that  the  parents  or  sponsors  took  for  him  at  baptism. 
He  receives  an  earnest  admonition  from  his  pastor  to  hold  fast  that 
which  he  has  and  be  faithful  unto  death.  The  whole  congregation,  to¬ 
gether  with  the  pastor,  lift  their  hearts  in  earnest  intercessory  prayer  to 
God  for  His  continuous  blessing  and  protection  on  the  young  confessor; 
and,  the  catechumen  kneeling  at  the  altar,  the  pastor  directs  the  inter¬ 
cessions  of  the  church  to  each  kneeling  one  in  turn,  by  laying  his  hands 
on  him  and  offering  up  for  him  a  fervent  petition  in  inspired  words. 
This  is  the  simple  and  appropriate  ceremony  we  call  confirmation." 

This  sacred  act  has  been  almost  a  yearly  occurence  in  our  church 
during  the  past  fifty  years.  Many  have  also  remained  true  to  their 
confession,  which  has  been  evidenced  at  the  few  confiramtion  reunions 
held  in  recent  years.  What  an  inspiration  it  has  been  to  us  all  to  remind 
ourselves  of  the  solemn  obligations  we  took  upon  ourselves  when  we 
were  confirmed!  Surely  some  straying  sheep  have  been  regained  through 
this  practice,  and  others  have  become  more  established  in  the  faith  and 
rooted  and  grounded  in  love.  Our  records  show  that  during  fifty  years, 
including  this  year’s  class,  we  have  confirmed  in  our  church  443  persons, 
and  deducting  this  year’s  class  it  would  be  401  persons  within  the  limits 
of  fifty  years,  according  to  the  date  of  organization.  The  oldest  con- 
firmand,  who  to-day  is  a  member  of  our  church,  is  Mr.  C.  J.  Swanson 
of  the  class  of  ’75. 

Our  earnest  and  heartfelt  prayers  to  God  is  that  those  who  have  been 
confirmed,  and  who  in  the  future  shall  be  confirmed,  in  our  church  may 
be  faithful  unto  death,  that  they  may  be  given  the  crown  of  life. 


62 


ANNIVERSARY 


CONFIRMATION  CLASS  1903. 

First  Row — Lilliiin  Cafvnelins,  Nels  A.  Swanson,  Selma  Martin,  Selmar  Linman,  Mable  Pearson. 
Second  ltow — Arthur  L.  Martin,  Martin  Anderson. 

Third  Rote  Jeanette  Peterson,  Minnie  llainberg,  Pearl  Levine,  Anna  \ndcrson. 


SOUVENIR 


63 


Prayer : 


Almighty  and  everlasting  God,  Who  dost  always  multiply  Thy 
Church,  and  with  Thy  light  and  grace  dost  strengthen  the  hearts  of 
those  whom  Thou  hast  regenerated,  confirming  unto  them  Thy  covenant 
and  faithfulness:  Grant  that  our  confirmands  may  still  increase  in  faith 
and  knowledge,  that  they  may  rejoice  in  their  Baptism  and  remain  faith¬ 
ful  to  the  promises  which  they  have  given  at  the  time  of  their  confirma¬ 
tion,  and  thus  daily  renew  their  covenant  with  Thee,  through  Jesus 
Christ,  our  Lord.  Amen. 


64 


ANNIVERSARY 


SOUVENIR 


65 


CONFIRMATION  CLASS  1907. 

First  Row — Chaliner  Lovdahl,  Louise  Levine,  Lonnie  Martin,  Clara  Peterson,  Hi  Id  mg  Matson,  Minnie  Hanson. 

Second  Row — Harry  Johnson.  Mildred  Engdahl,  Chas.  0.  Peterson,  Mabel  Olson,  Oliver  Lovdahl,  Victor  Olson,  Hilda  Hamilton,  Lester  Peterson. 
Third  Row — Minnie  Palmburg,  Ruth  Pearson,  Andrew  Dickens,  Edith  Murk,  Hazel  Bolin. 

Rot  to  m — Ed na  Melburg. 


66 


ANNIVERSARY 


CONFIRMATION  CLASS  1908. 

First  Ron- — Edgar  Runburg,  Harry  Themanson,  Mabel  M.  Olson,  Lillian  Wetander. 
Second  Row — Allen  Bowman,  Arthur  Swanson. 

Third  Row — Maud  Peterson,  Carl  Swanson,  Edwin  Johnson,  Margarett  Lundburg. 
Bottom  Row — Albert  Johnson,  Olga  Levine,  Victor  Bolin,  Esther  Johnson. 


SOUVENIR 


6 


CONFIRMATION  CLASS  1910. 

linns,  left  to  right  —Rudolf  Holmberg,  Elmer  Olson,  Guy  Pearson,  Harold  Bolin,  Arthur  Thcmanson,  Lambert  Engdahl,  Guy  Swanson, 
George  Johnson,  Harold  Melburg,  Arthur  Swanson. 

( Hr  Is — Vendla  Carlson,  Bessie  Lovdahl,  Pearl  Gagnelius,  Lillie  Swans  m,  Esther  Johnson,  Esthc'r  Palmberg,  Helen  Anderson,  Arlena  Levine, 
Agnes  Johnson,  Esther  Palmer. 


68 


ANNIVERSARY 


CONFIRMATION  CLASS  1911. 

Fifst  How — Frank  Anderson,  W  illard  Hanson,  llarry  Johnson,  Win.  Root,  John  Hyland,  John  Sandstrom,  Ralph  Johnson. 

Second  How-  Clarence  Mattson,  Esther  Wetander,  Katherine  Martin,  Julia  Rainier,  Marie  llilscnhoff,  Edna  Johnson,  Edna  Hamilton. 
Third  How  Mabel  Johnson,  Anna  Martin,  Marion  Swanson,  Hazel  Merirren,  Lillian  Levine,  Lydia  Ekstrom. 


SOUVENIR 


69 


CONFIRMATION  CLASS  1912. 

Hoys,  left  to  riyht — Leanord  Moberg,  John  Swanson,  Fred  Dahlgreen,  Leslie  Johnson,  Nels  0.  Swanson,  Elmer  Johnson,  Arthur  II.  Hanson, 
Leland  Anderson,  Chester  Swanson,  Hjalmer  Holmberg. 

Girls -  Edith  Swanson,  Hazel  I'almberg,  Lillian  Erlandson,  Lillian  Isaacson,  Mabel  Levine,  Elfreida  Gibson,  Signe  Johnson. 


70 


ANNIVERSARY 


SOUVENIR 


7i 


CONFIRMATION  CLASS  1914. 

Hoys — Ruben  Anderson,  Walter  Sandstrom,  Arthur  R.  Hanson,  Roy  Johnson,  Clarence  Johnson. 
(1  iris  Myrtle  Johnson,  Dorothy  Johnson,  Ruby  Swanson,  Esther  Anderson,  Ida  Johnson. 


72 


ANNIVERSARY 


SOUVENIR 


7 


? 

v> 


CONFIRMATION  CLASS  1917. 

First  llow — Victor  Engdahl,  Everett  Newman,  Evald  Anderson,  Hjalmar  Matson,  Everett  Johnson,  Carl  Larson. 

Second  Rqw — Esther  Isaacson,  Lillie  Carlson,  Ethel  Fredrickson,  Lillian  Fahlund. 

Third  Row — Ellen  Swanson,  Hazel  Anderson,  Anna  Johnson,  Marie  Carlson,  Mabel  Wetander,  Ethel  Clint,  Elsie  Larson. 


74 


ANNIVERSARY 


OUR  SOLDIER  BOYS 


NEVER  before  in  the  annals  of  human  events  has  there  been  such 
a  world-wide  catastrophe  as  the  present  world-war.  The  past 
must  become  mute  in  the  presence  of  to-day’s  momentous  events. 
The  cause  of  liberty  is  fiercely  contended  for,  and  nation  is  pitted  against 
nation. 

Our  own  beloved  country  has  also  been  drawn  into  the  turmoil,  and 
the  sound  has  gone  forth  from  the  seat  of  authority  to  rally  to  the 
defense  of  our  highly  priced  principles  of  liberty  and  equality.  Our 
church  has  rightfully  answered  the  call  by  giving  thirty-two  of  her 
sturdy  sons  to  the  defense  of  our  country.  These  men  have  been  among 
our  faithful  workers  of  the  church,  and  their  place  is  vacant,  waiting 
for  their  return.  But  in  the  meantime  we  commend  them  into  the 
gracious  care  and  protection  of  the  Saviour  of  the  world. 

Interceding  in  behalf  of  our  dear  boys  and  our  own  country,  we  feel 
assured  that  God  shall  hear  our  prayers,  and  in  His  own  good  time  shall 
change  “the  night  of  weeping  into  a  morn  of  song.” 

The  following  pages  will  bring  you  a  greeting  from  “Our  Boys,”  and 
will  help  you  to  keep  in  fresh  memory  your  own  obligations  at  home 
toward  them,  your  church  and  your  country. 


76 


ANNIVERSARY 


Captain  Charles  A.  Benson, 
enlisted  April,  1917. 

Private  B.  LeRov  Johnson, 
entered  June  24,  1918. 


Arthur  C.  Anderson, 
entered  June  24,  1918. 

Private  Lester  G.  Peterson, 
enlisted  June  14,  1918. 


Private  Fred  W.  Bergren, 
enlisted  May  31. 

Private  Raymond  C.  Carlson, 
enlisted  Sept.  21,  1917. 


SOUVENIR 


7 


Private  Gustaf  Erickson, 
enlisted  June  24,  1918. 

Private  Guy  Pearson, 
enlisted  April  30,  1918. 


Private  Ernest  C.  Melburg, 
enlisted  July,  1917. 

Cook  Lennie  M.  Martin, 
enlisted  Dec.  25,  1917. 


Private  Ralph  J.  Johnson 
enlisted  March  14.  1918. 

Private  Win.  C.  Hoot, 
enlisted  May  31,  1918. 


78 


ANNIVERSARY 


Corp.  Harold  A.  Melburg, 
entered  May  24,  1918. 

Serg't.  Arthur  11.  Hansen, 
enlisted  December,  1917. 


Private  Elmer  Anderson, 
entered  Sept.  21,  1917. 

Private  Victor  A.  Bolin, 
enlisted  July,  1917. 


Pvt.  Clarence  A.  E.  Anderson, 
enlisted  December,  1917. 

Private  Lambert  Engdahl. 
enlisted  March  14,  191 S. 


SOUVENIR 


70 


Private  John  S.  Holmberg, 
enlisted  April  3,  1918. 

Private  Harry  A.  Sward, 
enlisted  March  8,  1918. 


Private  Harold  \V.  Bolin, 
enlisted  December,  1917. 

Arthur  S.  Hamilton, 
enlisted  July  30.  1918. 


Private  Clarence  Matson, 
enlisted  March  14,  1918. 

Private  C'halmer  Lovedahl, 
enlisted  June  14,  1918. 


8o 


ANNIVERSARY 


Corporal  Win.  II.  Swenson, 
enlisted  Sept.  21,  1917, 

Private  Emil  Anderson, 
Private  Edwin  C.  Johnson,' 
enlisted  March  14,  1918. 


Private  Manne  Rask, 
enlisted  May  25,  1918. 
enlisted  June  2  4,  1918. 

John  Anton  Johnson, 
Jurie  24,  1918. 


SOUVENIR 


8 1 


CHURCH  BOARD. 


82 


ANNIVERSARY 


THE  OLD  CHURCH. 


INTERIOR  OF  THE  OLD  CHURCH  BEFORE  PIPE  ORGAN  WAS  INSTALLED. 


INTERIOR  OF  THE  OLD  CHURCH  W  ITH  PIPE  ORGAN. 


JNKIFERSJR) 


8+ 


VIEW  OF  MAIN  AUDITORIUM  OF  NEW  CHURCH 


fll 

W  ^fe^***^  p  3 

THE  OLDEST  PARSONAGE. 


THE  SECOND  PARSONAGE 


SOUVENIR 


8 


*7 

/ 


THE  PRESENT  PARSONAGE. 


SOCIETIES 

DORKAS-FORENINGEN 

DORKAS-FOR.ENINGEN,  hvilken  bestar  a f  vara  aldre  kvinn- 
liga  medlemmar,  stiftades  den  2  augusti  1894,  under  pastor 
Johnsons  t id.  Pa  sitt  gemytliga  satt  ledde  och  hjalpte  pastor 
Johnson  foreningen  under  dess  forsta  utvecklingsstadier,  sa  att  den  nu 
ar  en  af  vara  storsta  och  starkaste  foreningar.  Den  har  alltid  statt 
fardig  att  hjalpa  forsamlingen,  och  pa  grund  af  att  den  ar  den  aldsta 
foreningen  inom  forsamlingen  har  den  fatt  bara  namnet  “moderfore- 
ningen”.  Genom  Dorkas-foreningens  regelbundna  verksamhet  har  det 
forunnats  kvinnorna  att  samlas  hvarje  manad  till  stilla  andaktsstunder, 
da  de  fatt  lvssna  till  Ordet,  som  utsatts  af  vara  snalla  pastorer.  Vi  fa 
sakerligen  mycken  nvtta  och  vederkvickelse  fran  dessa  andaktsstunder, 
da  Ordet  synes  komma  en  narmare  an  vid  nagra  andra  tillf alien.  Det 
ar  ocksa  en  stor  glad j e  att  pa  detta  satt  mota  vara  vanner  och  komma 
i  narmare  beroring  med  forsamlingsmedlemmarna.  Det  ar  med  en  viss 
tillf redsstallelse  som  medlemmarna  se  tillbaka  pa  det  arbete,  som  de  fatt 
tillf alle  att  vara  med  om  i  denna  forening. 

Redan  under  dess  rndra  verksamhetsar  atog  sig  foreningen  att  reno- 
vera  det  davarande  prasthuset  samt  insatte  en  kort  tid  diirefter  gaslyse 
i  kyrkan.  Ar  1899  insatte  foreningen  med  tillhjalp  af  Luther-forbundet 
varmeapparaten  i  kyrkan  till  en  kostnad  af  $244, 

Ar  1904,  da  nytt  altare,  ny  altarrund  och  nya  bankar  insattes  i  kyrkan, 
deltog  Dorkas-fdreningen  i  detta  iidla  foretag.  Hvarje  ar  tillvaxte  for¬ 
eningen  bade  i  inre  och  yttre  hanseende,  och  stora  summor  samlades  for 
den  lokala  verksamheten  saviil  som  for  missionen  och  andra  valgorande 
andamal. 

Ar  1907  tilltradde  pastor  T.  A.  Conrad  herdesysslan  inom  var  forsam- 
ling,  och  vi  minnas  val,  hurusom  han  var  narvarande  vid  vara  moten 


SOUVENIR 


89 


och  att  det  var  en  inspiration  att  lyssna  till  den  undervisning  i  ord  och 
sang,  som  han  meddelade  oss.  For  manga  ar  arbetade  pastor  Conrad 
for  foreningens  basta.  Aret  1907  var  ett  ganska  betydelsefullt  ar,  eme- 
dan  Dorkas  da  tapetserade  och  malade  kyrkan  till  en  kostnad  af  $337. 
Da  piporgeln  insattes,  gaf  foreningen  $100  till  denna  fond,  och  samma 
ar  tapetserade  den  Luther  Hall  och  foljande  ar  prasthuset,  hvilket  be- 
lopte  sig  till  $80. 

Nar  forsamlingen  beslot  att  bygga  kyrka,  var  Dorkas  villig  att  hjalpa 
till,  och  har  sedan  dess  bidragit  med  stora  summor  hvarje  ar.  Ar  1910 
gafs  $500  och  tva  ar  senare  $500,  sa  att  $1,000  hade  inbetalts,  innan 
forsamlingen  flvttade  in  i  sin  nya  kyrka. 

Det  har  varit  brukligt  att  hvarje  ar  servera  supe  vid  nagot  lagligt 
tillfalle,  hvilket  inbringat  ganska  betydliga  summor.  Men  ar  1912  be- 
slots  det  att  hvarje  medlem  skulle  i  stallet  for  den  sedvanliga  supeen 
inlamna  $1,  och  pa  sa  satt  blef  det  mycket  lattare  att  gora  en  extra  in- 
samling  hvarje  ar.  Det  forsta  forsoket  inbragte  $116  och  foljande  ar 
$125.  Ar  1915  upptog  foreningen  en  rantebarande  revers  va  $500,  och 
innan  arets  slut  hade  man  lyckats  att  betala  hela  reversen,  och  nastkom- 
mande  ar  var  man  fardig  att  ataga  sig  att  betala  $500  till. 

Foreningen  har  visat  sig  vara  flitig  och  trogen  under  insamlandet  af 
alia  dessa  utfastade  summor  och  har  ocksa  lyckats.  i  alia  sina  foretag. 
Vid  tvenne  olika  tillf alien  serverades  middag  for  besokande  i  staden, 
inbringande  omkring  $100  hvarje  gang.  Den  har  saledes  istandsatts 
att  pa  ett  liberalt  satt  bidraga  bade  till  hem-  och  hednamission. 

Ar  1916  organiserades  bland  Dorkas-kvinnorna  en  Kvinnornas  hem- 
och  hednamissionsforening  med  ett  medlemsantal  af  65,  och  under  det 
gangna  aret  okades  medlemsantalet  till  106.  Denna  forening  med  de 
ofriga  i  distriktet  organiserades  till  en  sa  kallad  Galesburg-distriktets 
Kvinnornas  hem-  och  hednamissionsforening.  Medlemmarna  af  denna 
organisation  borde  kunna  inse  hvilken  valsignelse  det  ar  att  med  Guds 
nad  fa  vara  med  om  att  hjalpa  vara  missionarer  att  ga  ut  i  hela  viirlden 
for  att  resa  korsets  baner.  Under  detta  ar  hafva  program  utforts,  hvilka 
sarskildt  berort  hem-  och  hednamissionen. 

Vid  arsmotet  1916  fattades  ett  beslut  att  de,  som  mottaga  foreningen, 
skola  valjas  i  alfabetisk  ordning  och  att  fyra  kvinnor  skola  servera  hvarje 
gang.  Detta  system  har  befunnits  vara  mycket  battre,  emedan  tillfalle 
darigenom  gifvits  alia  medlemmarna  att  mottaga  foreningen. 

Dorkas-foreningen  har  nil  for  ofver  ett  ar  ledts  framat  och  uppat  af 
var  alskade  liirare  pastor  Purn,  som  med  ifver  samverkat  med  foreningen 


90 


ANNIVERSARY 


DORCAS  SOCIETY. 


SOUVENIR 


9i 


i  dess  strafvan  att  hjalpa  till  vid  kyrkoskuldens  utplanande.  Da  for- 
samlingen  den  31  oktober  1917  med  alia  krafter  paborjade  subskriptions- 
arbetet,  lofvade  Dorkas  strax  $150,  och  i  december  samma  ar  utfaste 
sig  foreningen  att  betala  $500  till.  Af  dessa  $650  har  redan  $424  in- 
samlats,  sa  att  endast  en  summa  af  $226  aterstar,  nar  detta  skrifves. 

Sasom  “moderforening”  inom  forsamlingen  har  den  afven  gatt  fore 
med  ett  godt  exempel,  nar  det  galler  landets  och  vara  egna  soners  viil- 
fard.  En  s.  k.  “Liberty  Bond”  pa  $50  har  kopts,  och  hafva  iifven  kvin- 
norna  medelst  nagra  smarre  gafvor  velat  uppmuntra  vara  soldatgossar 
vid  de  olika  ofnings-  och  faltlagren  och  pa  detta  satt  visat  “moderskar- 
leken”.  Var  onskan  och  bon  till  Gud  ar,  att  han  ma  hevara  dem  bade 
till  kropp  och  sjal  och  att  de  ma  snart  komma  hem  igen  efter  slutad 
kamp  och  strid.  Ma  vara  dottrar  upptaga  det  goda  arbetet,  som  har 
paborjats,  och  ma  Gud  valsigna  var  pastor  och  oss,  att  vi  ma  tillvaxa 
i  tro  och  karlek.  Detta  skola  vi  forvissas  om,  sa  framt  vi  satta  tro  till 
Herrens  ord  i  Ordspraksbokens  tredje  kapitel,  verserna  5  och  6:  “For- 
trosta  pa  Pierren  af  all t  ditt  hjarta  och  forlita  dig  icke  pa  ditt  forstand. 
Pa  alia  dina  viigar  ma  du  akta  pa  honom,  sa  skall  han  gora  alia  dina 
stigar  jamna.” 

Fru  Charles  Dahlgren. 


LUTHER  LEAGUE 

THE  LUTHER  LEAGUE  was  organized  December  15,  1895, 
or,  rather,  the  “ungdomsforening”  was  reorganized  into  the 
Luther  League,  the  “ungdomsforening”  having  been  organized 
October  15,  1886.  At  the  organization  of  the  Luther  League  the  fol¬ 
lowing  officers  were  chosen:  A.  A.  Johnson,  president;  J.  E.  Stark,  vice 
president;  Hattie  Peterson,  secretary. 

The  object  of  the  League  was,  and  is  to-day,  “to  uplift  and  stimulate 
each  other  intellectually,  spiritually  and  socially. ”  To  begin  with,  the 
League  held  two  meetings  each  month,  the  first  and  third  Tuesday,  the 
one  meeting  being  of  a  literary  art  and  the  other  a  social.  This  practice 
was  continued  until  1907,  when  it  was  found  more  practical  to  consoli¬ 
date  the  literary  and  social  meetings.  In  the  latter  part  of  1905  the 
League  began  to  assemble  every  Sunday  evening  for  prayer  service. 
These  Sunday  evening  prayer  meetings  have  since  that  time  been  con- 


SOUVENIR 


93 


ducted  regularly,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  short  intervals,  when  it 
was  found  necessary  to  temporarily  discontinue  them.  The  blessings 
which  have  resulted  from  these  prayer  meetings  we  cannot  estimate,  bur 
we  believe  they  have  been  bounteous,  and  are  still  hearing  fruit.  The 
spiritual  blessings  are  those  we  most  seek  for ;  and  blessed  are  the  young 
people  who  in  good  faith  feel  it  their  duty  as  well  as  privilege  to  assemble 
in  God’s  house  for  prayer.  They  are  worthy  of  the  name  “Luther 
Leaguers,”  they  are  stimulating  each  other  spiritually,  they  are  a  support 
or  a  prop  to  their  church.  “If  we  expect  to  he  a  pillar  in  God’s  temple 
by  and  by,  we  must  be  some  kind  of  a  prop  in  God’s  Church  to-day.” 

At  the  time  the  Luther  League  was  organized  it  was  only  a  local 
organization,  the  feeling  being  that  it  was  necessary  and  important  to 
have  the  young  people  organized  within  the  church.  It  gives  them 
excellent  training  and  serves  as  a  medium  through  which  they  are  kept 
interested  in  the  church  work  in  general  and  become  useful  and  faithful 
members. 

The  Lutheran  Church  firmly  believes  in  having  its  forces  well  organ¬ 
ized,  and  the  wisdom  of  this  contention  is  forcibly  demonstrated  by  the 
development  of  the  Luther  League  movement,  as  we  now  not  only  have 
a  local  Luther  League,  but  are  organized  into  District,  Conference,  and 
Synodical  Luther  Leagues,  and  to-day  is  the  largest  and  strongest  or¬ 
ganization  within  the  Lutheran  Church. 

The  League  has  also  substantially  supported  our  congregation  in  a 
financial  way.  In  1896  it  purchased  a  reed  organ  for  our  church.  This 
organ  is  still  being  used  in  the  prayer  room  of  our  present  church.  In 
1898,  $50  were  paid  on  the  congregation’s  debt.  In  1899,  together  with 
the  Dorcas  Society,  the  Luther  League  installed  the  furnace  in  the  old 
church.  In  1906,  $50  were  paid  on  the  congregation’s  debt.  In  1907 
it  defrayed  the  cost  of  painting  the  old  church.  In  1908  it  purchased 
our  present  pipe  organ  at  a  cost  of  $2,850.  In  1909  it  purchased  the 
piano  which  is  now  being  used  in  the  Luther  Room.  A  sum  of  $2,600 
has  been  subscribed,  and  practically  all  paid,  to  the  building  fund  of  our 
new  church.  In  1917,  $100  was  donated  to  the  local  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

In  1905  the  tenth  anniversary  of  the  organization  of  the  League  was 
fittingly  celebrated. 

The  work  that  the  Luther  League  has  done  among  our  young  people 
has  been  great ;  it  has  been  a  grand  success.  At  present  we  have  a  mem¬ 
bership  of  234,  and  our  meetings  are  particularly  well  attended. 

The  Leagues  present  officers  are:  President,  Ernest  Moberg;  vice 


94 


ANNIVERSARY 


MISSION  SOCIETY. 


SOUVENIR 


95 


president,  Algot  Bowman ;  secretaries,  Mrs.  A.  V.  Peterson  and  Olga 
Levine ;  treasurer,  Anna  Sanderholm. 

For  what  our  League  has  been  able  to  accomplish,  we  thank  God. 
May  God  richly  bless  the  future  of  our  Luther  League  and  our  humble 
efforts  to  serve  Him. 

A.  A.  Olson. 


MISSIONSFORENINGEN 

IEN  ALDRE  och  mera  stadgad  forsamling  borde  Annas  icke  sa 
litet  missionsintresse  bade  for  hem-  och  hednamissionen.  Detta  har 
forsports  till  icke  ringa  grad  inom  var  forsamling  under  dess 
existens.  Men  nagon  sarskild  forening,  som  haft  sasom  sin  uppgift  att 
sarskildt  verka  for  missionen,  fanns  icke  forran  man  den  16  maj  1907 
pa  inbjudan  af  fru  J.  S.  Olson  i  hennes  hem  stiftade  en  Kvinnornas 
missionsforening,  som  skulle  i  all  synnerhet  verka  for  yttre  missionen. 
Nagot  ofver  ett  tjugotal  kvinnor  voro  narvarande  vid  det  forsta  motet. 
Afsikten  var  nog  icke  blott  fa  deltaga  med  sina  medel  i  missionsverksam- 
heten,  utan  man  ville  ocksa  bereda  ett  tillfalle  for  de  kvinnor,  som  bo 
soder  och  vaster  om  staden,  att  kunna  komma  tillsammans  for  ett  sociellt 
samkvam  litet  oftare  an  hvad  Dorkas-foreningen  erbjdd.  Denna  fore¬ 
ning  oppnade  saledes  tillfalle  till  ett  lifaktigt  ingripande  bade  i  den 
lokala  forsamlingens  vidtomfattande  arbete  saviil  som  i  den  yttre  mis¬ 
sionen  samt  andra  valgorenhetsandamal  inom  synoden. 

Foreningen  har  ocksa  visat  sig  vara  villig  genom  de  inkomster,  som 
erhallas  genom  den  vanliga  afgiften  af  25  cents  per  medlem  vid  dess 
moten  samt  genom  sociala  tillstallningar,  att  racka  en  hjalpande  hand 
dit,  dar  behofven  varit  mest  skriande.  Sa  hade  den  vid  en  storre  mis- 
sionsfest,  som  holls  den  24  juni  1908,  da  dr  Betty  Nilsson  holl  missions- 
foredrag,  skankt  $50  att  hegagnas  for  hennes  blifvande  missionsarbete. 
Foljande  ar  bidrogs  med  $100  till  Kinamissionen,  och  vid  arsmotet  1910 
utfaste  sig  foreningen  att  underhalla  en  infodd  missionar  i  Indien  med 
$50  arligen.  Foreningen  har  ocksa  varit  forsamlingen  behjalplig,  i  det 
att  den  ar  1912  betake  forsamlingens  andel  af  $200  till  lllinois-konfe- 
rensens  missionsskuld.  Afvensa  har  den  understodt  Bethphage-missionen 
under  det  flydda  aret  med  en  summa  af  $66.30  och  till  var  egen  kyrko- 
skulds  afbetalande  bidragit  med  $25. 


96 


ANNIVERSARY 


WOMEN’S  HOME  AND  KOUKK1N  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 


SOUVENIR 


97 


Vi  hafva  all  anledning  att  tro  att  denna  forening  varit  till  valsignelse 
for  var  forsamling,  sasorn  de  andra  foreningarna,  och  var  bon  ar,  att  den 
fortfarande  ma  fa  vara  en  Herrens  tjanarinna,  som  i  all  odmjukhet  vill 
ga  Mastarens  arenden  i  den  pa  verklig  barmhartighet  sa  fattiga  varlden. 

Fru  W.  H.  Olson. 


THE  ELEANOR  AID  SOCIETY 


ONE  OF  the  liveliest  societies  of  the  church  is  The  Eleanor  Aid 
Society,  which  derived  its  name  from  the  little  village  where 
it  was  organized  on  the  9th  of  April,  1908. 

There  were  a  number  of  families  in  the  church  who  lived  so  far  from 
town  that  it  was  hard  for  them  to  get  in  to  all  the  meetings  of  the  Dorcas 
Society  and  other  societies,  so  the  ladies  planned  a  society  which  should 
meet  at  the  different  homes  of  the  members  and  enjoy  a  social  afternoon, 
as  well  as  a  beneficial  one,  in  so  far  as  the  church  was  concerned.  They 
met  at  the  home  of  Swan  Johnson  at  Eleanor,  and  there  the  society  had 
its  beginning.  There  were  a  number  of  American  ladies  who  were 
desirous  of  joining  with  them,  and  in  fact  had  a  hand  in  the  planning, 
and  they  were  very  welcome,  but  since  the  meetings  were,  as  a  rule,  held 
in  the  Swedish  language,  and  they  were  unable  to  understand  any  of  it, 
they  gradually  dropped  out,  and  it  became  entirely  Swedish.  At  that 
time  it  included  only  the  ladies  of  that  particular  neighborhood,  but  since 
then  has  grown  until  it  now  takes  in  all  the  ladies  of  the  north  country 
and  even  extends  into  the  city  itself,  for  the  old  members  who  have 
moved  to  town  are  so  loyal  that  they  cannot  be  enticed  away  from  that 
society  to  the  societies  which  belong  in  the  city. 

They  decided  to  call  the  society  “The  Eleanor  Aid  Society,”  and  the 
first  officers  were  as  follows:  President,  Rev.  T.  A.  Conrad;  vice  presi¬ 
dent,  Mrs.  Swan  Johnson;  secretary,  Mrs.  Swan  Levine;  treasurer, 
M  rs.  Nels  Levine.  The  aim  of  the  society  was  to  help  in  every  necessary 
way  the  church  work,  whether  it  be  for  missions,  for  the  running  expense 
of  the  church  or  for  the  purchasing  of  any  necessary  article  for  the 
church. 

From  a  financial  standpoint  the  society  has  been  a  great  success  in 
every  way.  The  first  undertaking  was  the  raising  of  funds  for  the 
purchase  of  an  altar,  which  was  installed  when  the  church  was  equipped 


98 


ANNIVERSARY 


KLKANOIt  All)  SOCIETY. 


SOUVENIR 


99 


with  the  organ  and  thereby  necessitated  another  altar.  Aside  from  that 
they  have  raised  a  large  amount  of  money  for  the  building  fund  of  the 
new  church.  In  all  since  the  organization  of  the  society  they  have  raised 
in  the  neighborhood  of  eight  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  and  at  the  present 
time  have  almost  paid  their  pledge  up  in  full,  which  is  remarkably  well 
done  for  a  small  society  like  this  one.  The  money  has  been  raised  by  the 
usual  collections  at  the  meetings  and  by  giving  lawn  socials  at  different 
homes,  and  these  socials  have  proven  very  popular  with  the  young  folks. 

The  society  has  been  beneficial,  as  it  was  planned,  and  much  credit 
should  be  given  to  the  members  who  have  labored  cheerfully,  very  cheer¬ 
fully,  at  whatever  work  they  were  assigned,  and  we  hope  their  faithful¬ 
ness  has  been  an  inspiration  to  the  other  workers  of  the  church  and  to 
the  pastor  who  is  their  leader.  May  the  members  also  not  forget  to  be 
thankful  for  the  opportunity  given  them  to  help  in  the  good  work  and 
for  the  blessings  given  them  which  enabled  them  to  take  part  in  the 
upbuilding  of  God’s  kingdom. 

Mrs.  Blanch  Levine. 


THE  MARTHA  SEWING  SOCIETY 

THE  young  ladies  of  our  church  felt  the  need  of  some  organiza¬ 
tion  among  themselves,  and  so  a  meeting  was  called  at  the  home 
of  Mrs.  Hamilton  in  the  evening  of  November  21,  1907.  At 
that  meeting  this  society  was  organized  and  called  the  “Martha  Sewing 
Society.”  The  first  officers  elected  were:  President,  Rev.  T.  A.  Conrad  ; 
vice  president,  Edith  (Matson)  Bengtson ;  secretary,  Mary  (Hagman) 
Johnson;  treasurer,  Pearl  (Martin)  Strand.  The  first  year  the  mem¬ 
bership  was  about  fifty. 

The  society  adopted  the  biblical  name  Martha,  as  they  meant  and 
wished  to  be  busy  working  for  the  Lord.  Martha  was  a  friend  and 
disciple  of  Christ,  whose  heartfelt  pleasure  it  was  to  serve  Him  to  her 
best  ability,  and  each  “Martha”  member  desired  to  be  a  follower  of  the 
biblical  Martha.  The  society  also  adopted  the  name  “Sewing  Society,” 
as  the  method  of  sewing  had  been  laid  aside  by  most  societies,  but  the 
Marthas  decided  each  member  should  take  up  some  sewing.  Later  plans 
were  made  for  a  sale,  and  each  member  should  make  and  donate  some 
articles. 


IOO 


ANNIVERSARY 


MARTI IV  SOCIETY. 


SOUVENIR 


IOI 


The  devotional  exercises  at  each  meeting  consist  of  singing  by  the 
society  and  Scripture  reading  and  prayer  by  the  president,  or  pastor. 
After  the  business  meeting,  refreshments  are  served  by  the  hostess.  The 
meetings  are  arranged  in  alphabetical  order,  and  two  members  serve  each 
time,  either  in  the  homes  or  at  the  Luther  Room. 

The  first  bazaar,  held  December  9 — 11,  1908,  at  Luther  Hall,  was 
a  decided  success.  A  program  was  given  each  evening.  A  doll  booth, 
fancy  article  booth,  candy  booth,  fish  pond  and  express  office  netted 
$3 03,  which  was  turned  over  to  the  pipe  organ  fund.  In  1909  an  ice 
cream  social  was  held  in  July  and  a  bazaar  December  14 — 16,  the  pro¬ 
ceeds  of  which  were  $208.  In  1910,  in  May,  it  was  decided  to  em¬ 
broider  a  quilt;  thirty  blocks  were  distributed,  each  block  having  room 
for  fifteen  names,  and  about  $110  were  taken  in.  A  box  social  was  held 
in  October  and  a  bazaar  December  15 — 16,  which  brought  in  about 
$317.  In  1 9 1 1  a  necktie  social  was  held  in  March  and  an  ice  cream 
social  in  June.  Instead  of  a  bazaar,  a  good  many  of  the  Marthas  filled 
the  small  books  called  “Gleaners,”  each  having  room  for  fifty  dimes, 
bringing  in  about  $165. 

During  the  next  four  years  a  bazaar  was  held  in  November  or  Decem¬ 
ber  of  each  year;  also  a  concert  and  a  box  social.  In  1917  the  society 
celebrated  its  tenth  anniversary  in  the  Luther  Room.  A  program  was 
given  and  refreshments  served  at  tables  decorated  to  represent  the  twelve 
months.  About  $165  were  the  proceeds. 

During  the  past  soon  eleven  years  the  society  has  taken  in  about 
$2,750,  most  of  which  has  been  turned  over  to  the  building  fund.  The 
society  has  also  sent  flowers  to  the  sick,  occasionally  a  surprise  or  shower 
and  other  pleasant  social  gatherings.  The  society  has  76  members  at 
present.  The  officers  are:  President,  Olga  Matson;  vice  president, 
Louise  Levine ;  secretary,  Ethel  Peterson ;  treasurer,  Mabel  Olson. 

The  meetings  reveal  throughout  a  Christian  atmosphere  and  are 
greatly  enjoyed  by  all  the  members.  We  feel  that  the  society  has  been 
a  power  for  good  within  our  church,  both  financially  and  spiritually, 
and  a  means  by  which  our  young  ladies  have  learned  to  know,  to  love, 
and  to  labor  for  the  dear  church  of  which  they  are  members,  and  in  so 
doing  will  be  brought  into  closer  touch  and  communion  with  the  invisible 
Church  in  heaven. 


Laura  Jacobson. 


102 


ANNIVERSARY 


LUTHERAN  WORKERS. 


SOUVENIR 


103 


LUTHERAN  WORKERS 


PA  fredagseftermiddagen  den  15  oktober  1909  hade  vara  kvinnor 
i  staden  blifvit  inbjudna  till  pastor  Conrads  hem.  Afsikten  med 
detta  mote  var  att  stifta  en  forening  bland  dessa  kvinnor  for  att 
gifva  dem  tillfalle  att  mota  i  vara  hem  en  gang  i  manaden  och  pa  samma 
gang  verka  for  nagot  valgorande  andamal.  Att  de  verkligen  onskade 
att  en  sadan  forening  skulle  stiftas,  visade  sig  daruti,  att  sa  manga  kom- 
mo  med  redan  fran  borjan. 

Foreningen  antog  namnet  “The  Lutheran  Workers.”  Foljande  am- 
betsinnehafvare  valdes :  ordforande,  pastor  Conrad;  vice  ordforande,  fru 
Gust  Melburg;  sekreterare,  fru  John  Runberg;  kassor,  fru  John  Bolin. 

Beslut  fattades  redan  vid  detta  mote  att  man  skulle  arbeta  for  var 
nya  kyrka,  som  vi  i  framtiden  skulle  bygga,  och  detta  beslut  har  fore¬ 
ningen  pa  ett  stilla  satt  fullfoljt.  Den  har  icke  gjort  mycket  vasen  af 
sig,  men  dock  utofvat  en  valsignelserik  verksamhet.  Den  har  skiinkt 
omkring  $300  till  kyrkofonden  och  anskaffade  bordsilfver  och  disker, 
nar  vi  flyttade  in  i  var  nya  kyrka.  For  tva  ar  sedan  tapetserade  fore¬ 
ningen  pastorshuset,  och  nar  detta  var  betaldt,  sa  blef  det  tal  om  att  vi 
behofde  en  ny  kokstove  for  vart  kok,  och  da  beslutade  den  att  kopa  en 
sadan.  En  kommitte  tillsattes  att  se  till  hvad  som  kunde  goras,  och 
resultatet  blef  att  en  “combination  gas  and  coal  stove”  med  varm-vatten 
ledning  insattes,  hvilket  var  just  hvad  vi  behofde.  Allt  ar  nu  betaldt, 
hvilket  visar  att  foreningen  lefver  ett  friskt  och  sundt  lif  och  att  den 
ar  villig  att  verka  for  Herrens  sak  pa  jorden.  Det  ar  val  sant,  att  detta 
icke  alltid  ar  ett  sakert  kannetecken  pa  ett  verkligt  troslif,  men  det  ar 
ocksa  sant,  att  dar  man  ingenting  vill  gora  for  det  yttre,  dar  ar  det  nog 
icke  val  bestalldt  med  lif  vet  i  Gud. 

Foreningens  narvarande  ambetsman  aro :  ordforande,  fru  Frank  Stark; 
vice  ordforande,  fru  Peter  Eckstrom ;  sekreterare,  fru  Oscar  Purn ;  kas¬ 
sor,  fru  Christine  Levine. 

Herren  valsigne  allt  fortfarande  denna  forenings  verksamhet  sasom 
han  gjort  i  det  flydda ! 


Fru  S.  N.  Johnson. 


104 


ANNIVERSARY 


LUTIIKKAN  MI10TII  KltllOOl). 


SOUVENIR 


105 


MEN’S  LEAGUE,  OR  LUTHERAN 
BROTHERHOOD 


ON  THE  evening  of  October  19,  1909,  the  congregation  having 
felt  the  need  of  a  Men’s  Society  in  the  church,  an  organization 
was  perfected  which  was  called  the  Men’s  League  of  the  Lu¬ 
theran  Church  of  Monmouth. 

The  purpose  of  this  organization  was  to  be  to  try  to  interest  all  the 
men  of  the  congregation  in  the  church  work.  The  following  officers 
were  elected  at  the  first  meeting:  President,  Rev.  T.  A.  Conrad;  vice 
president,  David  Olson;  secretary,  Hilding  Matson;  treasurer,  Salmer 
Linman. 

This  organization  of  the  men  of  the  congregation,  with  the  assistance 
of  the  ladies  at  times,  held  a  meeting  once  a  month,  and  some  very 
interesting  and  instructive  meetings  were  held,  consisting  of  talks  by 
many  outside  speakers,  discussions  bv  the  men  of  the  church  on  topics 
concerning  the  church  work,  musical  numbers,  etc.,  and  while  this  or¬ 
ganization  only  remained  active  for  about  two  years,  we  believe  the 
congregation  received  much  blessing  from  it,  and  we  only  wish  that  it 
could  have  continued  its  meetings  longer,  as  we  believe  the  men  of  the 
church  need  an  organization  of  this  kind. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  the  congregation  commenced  the  prelimi¬ 
nary  work  of  securing  a  new  church  building,  and  it  was  largely  through 
the  efforts  of  the  Men’s  League  that  the  congregation  decided  to  build 
the  new  church  on  a  more  desirable  location  than  the  one  where  the  old 
church  stands.  Many  discussions  were  held  at  the  meetings  of  the  Men’s 
League  in  regard  to  this  change  of  location,  and  a  committee  was  ap¬ 
pointed  by  the  League  to  investigate  different  sites  which  were  available 
where  we  could  erect  a  new  church  building. 

During  its  two  years  of  activity  the  Men’s  League  received  about  $85 
in  collections  and  membership  dues,  which  together  with  accumulated 
interest  was  later  turned  in  to  the  building  fund. 

On  Sunday  evening,  February  17,  1918,  after  the  close  of  the  service, 
the  men  of  the  congregation  again  got  together  and  organized  a  society 
which  was  called  the  Lutheran  Brotherhood  of  the  First  Lutheran 
Church  of  Monmouth,  Ill.  The  object  of  this  organization  was  to  be 
to  bring  the  men  of  the  church  into  closer  fellowship  with  each  other, 
to  work  together  for  the  local  church,  and  also  to  work  in  co-operation 


io6 


ANNIVERSARY 


non.) 


SOUVENIR 


107 

with  the  Lutheran  Brotherhood  of  America,  to  further  the  religious, 
moral  and  social  well-being  of  our  Lutheran  boys  in  the  service  of  the 
United  States  at  the  different  cantonments,  as  well  as  upon  the  battle¬ 
field.  In  order  to  do  this  the  Lutheran  Brotherhood  of  America  launched 
a  campaign  for  about  three  weeks  to  raise  a  fund  of  $750,000  to  be  used 
to  erect  buildings,  supply  camp  pastors,  etc.,  at  the  different  camps,  and 
our  local  Brotherhood,  after  a  thorough  canvass  of  all  the  members  of 
our  church,  as  well  as  many  outside  of  our  church,  succeeded  in  raising 
about  $1,500  for  this  purpose. 

The  following  were  elected  as  officers  of  the  Brotherhood  for  this 
year:  President,  Rev.  Purn ;  vice  president,  Arvid  Peterson;  secretary, 
Alfred  Linman ;  corresponding  secretary,  Mouretz  Linman  ;  treasurer, 
A.  A.  Johnson.  The  total  membership  of  the  Brotherhood  at  the  present 
time  is  about  100. 

Very  interesting  meetings  have  been  held  once  every  month,  and  while 
the  attendance  has  not  been  what  it  should  have  been  thus  far,  we  hope 
that  it  will  not  be  long  until  every  man  of  the  congregation  will  be  an 
active  member  of  the  Brotherhood,  and  we  are  sure  that  it  will  result 
in  much  blessing  to  the  congregation  as  well  as  to  the  men  themselves. 

Mouretz  Linman. 


THE  CHOIR 


During  the  early  years  of  our  church  we  had  no  choir  and  no 
organist,  but  in  1875  an  organ  was  purchased,  for  which  the 
sum  of  $40.50  was  paid.  Ellen  Cassel  was  the  congregation’s 
first  organist,  being  elected  to  the  position  in  1877.  Previous  to  this 
time  the  singing  was  led  by  different  individuals,  but  there  was  no  choir. 
In  1878  Mr.  Ernest  Sandstedt  was  elected  organist  and  served  in  this 
capacity  until  1882,  when  Miss  Mary  Lindstrom  took  up  the  work  and 
continued  two  years.  Mr.  Frank  Johnson  became  the  next  organist, 
who  also  served  two  years,  his  salary  being  $20  a  year.  In  1886  Miss 
Emma  Stark  was  elected,  and  the  salary  was  also  increased  to  $25  per 
year,  and  the  following  year,  1887,  Miss  Mary  Lindstrom  again  played 
for  us.  In  1888  Miss  Stark  was  elected  again  and  continued  until  1891. 
In  1892  Mr.  Frank  Johnson  was  elected  at  a  salary  of  $50,  continuing 
this  time  until  1894.  The  following  year  Mrs.  Rev.  Johnson  and  Miss 


io8 


ANNIVERSARY 


SOUVENIR 


IOO 


Mathilda  Olson  had  charge  of  the  work,  and  in  1896  Miss  Olson  took 
charge  at  a  salary  of  $75  per  year,  holding  the  position  until  1899,  and 
during  this  time  a  new  organ  was  purchased.  In  1900  Miss  Mary 
Hagman  began  her  duties  and  continued  to  serve  the  congregation  faith¬ 
fully  for  many  years.  Following  Miss  Hagman’s  resignation,  Miss 
Ruth  Pearson  served  as  organist  for  three  years.  In  1908  a  new  pipe 
organ  was  installed,  which  has  indeed  been  a  great  help  to  us  in  all  our 
choir  work.  After  Miss  Pearson  gave  up  the  work,  a  call  was  extended 
to  Prof.  E.  J.  Swanson  of  Superior,  Wis.,  who  accepted  and  stayed  with 
us  until  October,  1915,  resigning  to  take  a  position  at  De  Kalb,  Ill. 
M  iss  Florence  Peterson  of  Galesburg  was  the  next  to  serve,  remaining 
with  us  from  the  fall  of  1915  until  January,  1918.  Miss  Amy  Gran- 
lund  of  Rock  Island  was  then  called,  beginning  her  duties  in  February, 
but  was  unable  to  remain  with  us  for  more  than  a  few  weeks,  so  we 
had  to  look  around  for  another  organist.  Prof.  Carl  Alexis  of  Fincoln. 
Neb.,  was  chosen  by  the  church  board,  and  a  call  was  extended  to  him. 
Prof.  Alexis  accepted  the  call  and  began  his  duties  in  May,  1918,  and 
we  sincerely  hope  that  he  will  remain  with  us  permanently. 

The  first  choir  was  organized  in  1883,  and  although  it  has  been  hard 
at  times  to  keep  the  choir  together,  nevertheless  they  have  furnished 
music  nearly  every  Sunday  for  many  years.  Some  of  the  members  have 
been  very  faithful,  coming  to  practice  on  Friday  evenings,  singing  in 
the  choir  on  Sundays  year  after  year.  Others  have  come  and  gone  after 
being  members  a  few  weeks  or  months.  At  the  present  time  there  are 
about  twenty  active  members  in  the  choir. 

Under  the  able  leadership  of  Prof.  Alexis  we  hope  that  the  choir  may 
increase  both  in  membership  and  faithfulness,  and  that  all  members  will 
do  their  utmost  to  serve  both  God  and  their  church  in  the  years  to  come. 


Olga  Matson. 


JUBILEE  CHORUS 


HE  Jubilee  Chorus  is  a  musical  organization  which  was  organ¬ 


ized  on  Monday  evening,  July  23,  1917,  in  the  Luther  Room  of 


our  church,  with  about  fifty  young  people  present,  growing  to 
sixty  members  in  a  very  short  time.  The  following  officers  were  elected  : 
President,  Arthur  Anderson  ;  vice  president,  Alfred  Linman  ;  secretary, 
M  iss  Mildred  Levine;  reporter,  Alfred  Linman;  treasurer,  Frank  Stark; 


I  IO 


ANNIVERSARY 


custodians,  Lillian  Swanson  (soprano),  Anna  Sanderholm  (alto),  Algor 
Bowman  (bass)  and  Arvid  Peterson  (tenor).  Rev.  Oscar  Purn  was 
elected  director  and  Miss  Florence  Peterson  organist. 

The  chorus  gave  its  first  concert  on  October  31,  1917,  in  our  church, 
when  the  cantata,  “The  City  of  God,”  which  was  written  especially  for 
the  quadricentennial  of  the  Protestant  Reformation  which  our  church 
was  celebrating  at  that  time,  was  rendered  to  a  large  audience.  The 
chorus  also  sang  on  Christmas  morning,  1917.  The  soloists  in  the  chorus 
were  as  follows:  Miss  Esther  Johnson  and  Mrs.  Oscar  Purn,  sopranos: 
Mr.  Arthur  Anderson,  bass;  Mr.  Arvid  Peterson,  tenor. 

The  intention  of  this  chorus  is  to  at  least  once  a  year  give  some  can¬ 
tata  or  sing  at  different  festivities  and  thereby  to  awaken  interest  in  the 
musical  part  of  our  church  work. 

Alfrfd  Linman. 


MALE  QUARTETTE. 

Alfred  Linman,  Arvid  Peterson,  Arthur  Anderson,  Pastor  Oscar  Purn. 


SOUVENIR 


1 1 1 


EDITING  AND  MANAGING  STAFF  OF  .JUBILEE  SOUVENIR. 


I  12 


ANNIVERSARY 


CITY 
N\  1 55!  CIVS 


RESCUE  WORK, 
HOSPICES  ,  HOMES, 
k  WORK  IN  SAILS , 
ETC  ■  TRACTS, 
'CHRlSTlAVyNORSEfi- 

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A  CADEMY, 

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iniSTirur/oiv , 
'caVe  of  sick  , 
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PA  R  IS  fi 

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MISS  IONS. 

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THE  CONGREGATION’S  CIRCLE  OF 

INFLUENCE 


THE  local  congregation  is  a  center  from  which  power  goes  out 
to  the  ends  of  the  earth.  He  who  takes  an  active  part  in  church 
work  is  engaged  in  an  enterprise  which  is  world-wide,  and  which 
is  productive  day  and  night,  year  in  and  year  out,  to  the  end  of  time. 

While  the  local  church  may  be  closed  most  of  the  time  during  six 
days  of  the  week,  its  work  goes  on  just  the  same.  The  influences  set  in 
motion  by  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  and  the  administration  of  the 
Sacraments  are  active  in  the  daily  life  of  the  Christian.  He  strives  "to 
do  justly,  and  to  love  kindness,  and  to  walk  humbly  with  his  God.'' 

Besides  this,  the  money  which  he  has  contributed  for  the  benevolent 
and  mission  work  of  the  Church  is  busy  on  its  many  errands  of  Christian 
service.  Besides  assisting  in  local  works  of  charity,  it  is  building  churches 
and  schools,  carrying  on  the  work  of  Christian  education,  caring  for  the 
immigrant  and  the  sailor,  the  aged,  the  orphan,  the  sick  and  the  de¬ 
pendent,  the  epileptic  and  other  afflicted  at  home  and  abroad,  is  preaching 


SOUVENIR 


1 13 


the  Gospel  to  the  heathen  in  India,  China,  Japan  and  Porto  Rico,  and 
on  the  home  mission  held  to  the  scattered  brethren  of  the  household  of 
faith,  to  the  Slavs  and  to  the  Jews;  is  doing  rescue  work  in  the  great 
cities  with  their  slums,  jails  and  reformatories,  etc.  Is  it  not  a  splendid 
work  that  is  thus  going  on  day  and  night,  at  home  and  abroad?  Is  it 
not  a  great  privilege  that  God  permits  us  to  have  a  part  in  the  work  of 
H  is  busy  Vineyard?  What  a  wonderful,  divine  Enterprise! 

There  is  no  organization,  society,  lodge  or  fellowship  on  earth  which 
can  even  begin  to  compare  with  the  Church  in  the  magnitude,  importance, 
and  pure  charity  of  its  works.  He  who  belongs  to  the  Church  is  multi¬ 
plying  his  capacity  for  service  to  his  fellowmen  manifold.  There  is 
practically  no  limit  to  its  development.  When  he  has  given  of  himself 
and  of  his  means  to  the  Lord’s  cause,  as  far  as  he  is  able,  then  those 
whom  he  has  been  instrumental  in  bringing  into  the  Kingdom  will  take 
up  the  work,  and  will  multiply  his  influence  by  their  own  works  genera¬ 
tion  after  generation,  in  ever  widening  circles.  Praise  be  to  God  for 
H  is  Church,  which  is  not  only  the  Ark  of  our  salvation,  but  also  a 
Vineyard  where  we  may  serve  Him! — My  Church. 


CHURCH  OFFICERS 


i.  Deacons. 

1868 —  John  Beck  2  years,  Olof  Nelson  2  years,  Ake  Nelson  1  year,  Nels 
Holm  1  year. 

1869 —  Ake  Nelson  2  years,  T.  Nordgren  2  years. 

1870 —  John  Holmberg  2  years,  Anders  Svenson  2  years. 

1871 —  Ake  Nelson  2  years,  J.  O.  Peterson  2  years,  B.  Hulin  1  year. 

1872 —  P.  Zetterberg  2  years,  C.  Wist  2  years. 

1873 —  Swen  Moller  2  years,  Gustaf  Wist  2  years,  M.  Cassel  1  year, 
Louis  Johnson  1  year. 

1874 —  J.  S.  Olson  2  years,  John  Ekenbom  2  years. 

1875 —  T.  Themanson  2  years,  Nels  Holcomb  2  years. 

1876 —  John  Ekenbom  2  years,  J.  S.  Olson  2  years. 

1877 —  Ake  Nelson  3  years,  Louis  Johnson  3  years,  O.  S.  Olson  2  years, 
C.  G.  Peterson  2  years,  G.  Stark  1  year. 

1878 —  Gust  Stark  3  years,  A.  L.  Martin  3  years,  G.  Sanden  2  years, 
A.  G.  Holmberg  1  year,  J.  S.  Olson  1  year. 

1879 —  J.  S.  Olson  3  years,  A.  G.  Holmberg  3  years. 

1880 —  Nels  Johnson  3  years,  Gustaf  Sanden  3  years,  Fred  Ahlstrand 
1  year,  Nels  Holcomb  2  years. 

1881 —  T.  Themanson  3  years,  Gustaf  Stark  3  years. 

1882 —  Andrew  Nelson  3  years,  J.  S.  Olson  3  years. 

1883 —  James  Erikson  3  years,  Nels  Holcomb  3  years. 

1884 —  Gustaf  Stark  3  years,  N.  Anderson  3  years. 

1885 —  J.  S.  Olson  3  years,  S.  J.  Lindstrom  3  years,  Nels  Johnson  1  year. 
!  886— Nels  Johnson  3  years,  Chas.  Hult  3  years,  Andrew  Nelson  1  year. 
! 887— Gustaf  Stark  3  years,  Swan  Johnson  3  years,  Peter  Moller  2 

years,  Nels  Fillman  1  year. 

!  888 — J.  S.  Olson  3  years,  Nels  Fillman  3  years,  August  Hagman  2 


years. 


SOUVENIR 


115 

1889 —  Nels  Johnson  3  years,  James  Erikson  3  years,  Swan  Mattson  2 
years. 

1890 —  August  Hagman  3  years,  C.  P.  Miller  3  years. 

1891 —  J.  S.  Olson  3  years,  Sven  Johnson  3  years. 

1892 —  Gust.  Stark  3  years,  John  Monson  3  years,  A.  L.  Martin  1  year. 

1893 —  John  Strand  3  years,  Chas.  P.  Miller  3  years. 

1894 —  J-  S.  Olson  3  years,  A.  W.  Lindegren  3  years. 

1895 —  Gustaf  Stark  3  years,  John  Monson  3  years. 

1896 —  John  Strand  3  years,  August  Hagman  3  years. 

1897 —  J*  S.  Olson  3  j^ears,  A.  W.  Lindegren  3  years. 

1898 —  Swan  Johnson  3  years,  Gustaf  Stark  3  years. 

1899 —  John  Strand  3  years,  August  Hagman  3  years. 

1900 —  A.  W.  Lindegren  3  years,  C.  G.  Peterson  3  years. 

1901 —  A.  L.  Martin  3  years,  A.  A.  Johnson  3  years. 

1902 —  John  Strand  3  years,  O.  N.  Levine  3  years. 

1903 —  Fred  Anderson  3  years,  J.  E.  Gagnelius  3  years. 

1904 —  A.  L.  Martin  3  years,  J.  S.  Olson  1  year,  Swan  Johnson  1  year, 
S.  N.  Linman  3  years. 

1905 —  Swan  Johnson  3  years,  C.  A.  Johnson  3  years,  C.  P.  Miller  1 
year. 

1906 —  J.  E.  Gagnelius  3  years,  J.  S.  Olson  3  years. 

1907 —  A.  L.  Martin  3  years,  Gus  T.  Melhurg  3  years. 

1908 —  Swan  Johnson  3  years,  Swan  Linman  3  years. 

1909 —  W.  H.  Olson  3  years,  August  Hagman  3  years. 

1910 —  J.  L.  Martin  3  years,  Abraham  Bergren  3  years. 

1911 —  S.  N.  Linman  3  years,  John  Nelson  3  years. 

1912 —  W.  H.  Olson  3  years,  August  Hagman  3  years. 

1913 —  A.  A.  Carlson  3  years,  J.  O.  Nelson  3  years. 

1914 —  S.  N.  Linman  3  years,  John  Nelson  3  years. 

1915 —  August  Hagman  3  years,  A.  L.  Martin  3  years. 

1916 —  A.  A.  Carlson  3  years,  J.  O.  Nelson  3  years. 

1917 —  J.  A.  Swanson  3  years,  A.  A.  Olson  3  years,  Mouritz  Linman 
1  year. 

1918 —  J.  E.  Stark  3  years,  Mouritz  Linman  3  years. 

2.  Trustees. 

1868 —  Peter  Ringdahl  2  years,  Gustaf  Wedelin  2  years,  Johannes  Jacob¬ 
son  1  year. 

1869 —  Peter  Call  2  years. 

1870 —  Louis  Johnson  2  years,  James  Larson  2  years. 


1 1 6  ANNIVERSARY 

1871 —  John  Beck  2  years,  Mans  Cassel  2  years. 

1872 —  B.  Hulin  2  years,  A.  Nelson  2  years. 

1873 —  T.  Nordgren  2  years,  Ola  Olson  2  years. 

1874 —  Nels  Johnson  2  years,  Gustaf  Stark  2  years. 

1875 —  Gustaf  Wedelin  2  years,  O.  S.  Olson  2  years. 

1876 —  John  Fred  2  years,  Nels  Johnson  2  years. 

1877 —  Nels  Holcomb  2  years,  S.  J.  Lindstrom  2  years. 

1878 —  Olof  Swenson  3  years,  John  L.  Martin  3  years,  Louis  Martin 
2  years,  T.  Themanson  1  year. 

1879 —  T.  Themanson  3  years,  Nels  Holcomb  3  years. 

1880 —  Gustaf  Stark  3  years,  J.  S.  Olson  3  years. 

1881 —  Olof  Swenson  3  years,  John  Lundell  3  years. 

1882 —  Nels  Holcomb  3  years,  Fred  Ahlstrand  3  years,  Thomas  Thulin 
2  years. 

1883 —  Swan  Mattson  3  years,  Gustaf  Stark  3  years. 

1884 —  Thomas  Thulin  3  years,  Nels  Johnson  3  years. 

1885 —  Gust  A.  Ahlstrand  3  years,  James  Erikson  3  years. 

1886 —  Gustaf  Stark  3  years,  A.  L.  Martin  3  years. 

1887 —  N.  P.  Nelson  3  years,  Thomas  Swanson  3  years. 

1888 —  August  Hagman  3  years,  Theodore  Ekstrom  3  years. 

1889 —  A.  L.  Martin,  Thomas  Thulin. 

1890 —  Gust  Melburg  3  years,  N.  P.  Nelson  3  years,  John  Martin  1  year. 

1891 —  John  Monson  3  years,  S.  N.  Linman  3  years. 

1892 —  A.  A.  Johnson  3  years,  O.  N.  Levine  3  years. 

1893 —  Thomas  Thulin  3  years,  Martin  Jacobson. 

1894 —  Swan  Linman  3  years,  John  Blomgren  3  years. 

1895 —  O.  N.  Levine  3  years,  A.  A.  Johnson  3  years. 

1896 —  John  Nelson  3  years,  Chas.  P.  Miller  3  years. 

1897 —  Swan  Linman  3  years,  W.  H.  Olson  3  years. 

1898 —  A.  L.  Martin  3  years,  Gust  Nelson  3  years. 

1899 —  John  Nelson  3  years,  Chas.  P.  Miller  3  years. 

1900 —  Swan  Linman  3  years,  W.  H.  Olson  3  years. 

1901 —  J.  S.  Olson  3  years,  Louis  N.  Levine. 

1902 —  John  Nelson  3  years,  John  A.  Swanson  3  years. 

1903 —  Oscar  Fredrickson  3  years,  W.  H.  Olson  3  years. 

1904 —  Alfred  Linman  3  years,  Nels  Levine  3  years. 

1905 —  John  Swanson  3  years,  John  E.  Stark  3  years. 

1906 —  Nels  Murk  3  years,  Frank  Johnson  3  years. 

1907 —  Alfred  Linman  3  years,  Nels  Levine  3  years. 


SOUVENIR 


1 17 

1908 —  John  A.  Swanson  3  years,  J.  E.  Stark  3  years. 

1909 —  Chas.  Dahlgren  3  years,  Roy  Newman  3  years,  J.  W.  Pearson 

2  years. 

1910 —  Alfred  Linman  3  years,  George  Oberg  3  years. 

1 9 1 1 —  J.  A.  Swanson  3  years,  J.  W.  Pearson  3  years,  Chas.  Isaacson 

3  years. 

1912 —  Chas.  Dahlgreen  3  years,  Chas.  Strand  3  years,  F.  A.  Johnson  3 
years,  Axel  Larson  1  year. 

1913 —  Alfred  Linman  3  years,  Edward  Hanson  3  years,  Nels  A.  Swan¬ 
son  3  years. 

1914 —  J.  W.  Pearson  3  years,  Chas.  Isaacson  3  years,  F.  A.  Stark  3  yrs. 

19 1 5 —  Chas.  Dahlgreen  3  years,  Alfred  Melburg  3  years,  A.  A.  Johnson 
3  years. 

1916 —  Emil  Lauger  3  years,  Fred  L.  Nelson  3  years,  Carl  SwTanson  3 
years. 

1917 —  J.  W.  Pearson  3  years,  Chas.  Isaacson  3  years,  W.  J.  Newman 

2  years,  F.  A.  Stark  3  years. 

1918 —  Chas.  Dahlgreen  3  years,  A.  A.  Johnson  3  years,  Elmer  Carlson 

3  years. 


3.  Secretaries. 


1868 —  Olof  Nelson. 

1869 —  Johannes  Jacobson. 

1870 —  Anders  Nelson. 

1871 —  Anders  Nelson. 

1872 —  N.  Nordling. 

1873 —  O.  S.  Olson. 

1874 —  O.  S.  Olson. 

1 875 —  O.  S.  Olson. 

1876 —  O.  S.  Olson. 

1877 —  C.  G.  Peterson. 

1878 —  J.  P.  Lundell  and 
J.  S.  Olson. 

1879 —  J.  S.  Olson. 

1880 —  Fred  Ahlstrand. 

1881 —  Fred  Ahlstrand. 

1882 —  Fred  Ahlstrand. 

1883 —  Fred  Ahlstrand. 

1884 —  Fred  Ahlstrand. 


1885 —  Fred  Ahlstrand. 

1886 —  Fred  Ahlstrand. 

1887 —  August  Hagman. 

1888 —  August  Hagman. 

1889 —  August  Hagman. 

1890 —  August  Hagman. 

1891 —  August  Hagman. 

1892 —  Gus  T.  Melburg. 

1893 —  Gus  T.  Melburg. 

1894 —  A-  A.  Johnson. 

1895 —  A.  A.  Johnson. 

1896 —  A.  A.  Johnson. 

1897 —  A.  A.  Johnson. 

1898 —  A.  A.  Johnson. 

1899 —  A.  A.  Johnson. 

1900 —  A.  A.  Johnson. 

1901 —  A.  A.  Johnson. 

1902 —  A.  A.  Johnson. 


ANNIVERSAR 


1903 —  O.  N.  Levine  and 
A.  A.  Johnson. 

1904 —  A.  A.  Johnson. 

1905 —  A.  A.  Johnson. 

1906 —  A.  A.  Johnson. 

1907 —  A.  A.  Johnson. 

1908 —  A.  A.  Johnson. 

1909 —  A.  A.  Johnson. 

1910 —  A.  A.  Johnson. 

4- 

1868 —  John  Beck. 

1869 —  John  Beck. 

1870 —  John  Beck. 

1871 —  Mans  Cassel. 

1872 —  John  Beck. 

1873 —  B.  Hulin. 

1874 —  Nels  Johnson. 

1875 —  Nels  Johnson. 

1876 —  Nels  Johnson. 

1877 —  Nels  Johnson. 

1878 —  Nels  Holcomh. 

1879 —  Nels  Holcomb. 

1880 —  Nels  Holcomb. 

1881 —  Nels  Holcomb. 

1882 —  Nels  Holcomb. 

1883 —  Nels  Holcomb. 

1884 —  Nels  Johnson. 

1885 —  Nels  Johnson. 

1886 —  Nels  Johnson. 

1887 —  N.  P.  Nelson. 

1888 —  N.  P.  Nelson. 

1889 —  N.  P.  Nelson. 

1890 —  Thomas  Thulin. 

1891 —  Thomas  Thulin. 

1 892 —  Thom  as  Thul  in. 

1893 —  O.  N.  Levine. 


19 1 1 —  A.  A.  Olson. 

1912 —  A.  A.  Olson. 

1913 —  A.  A.  Olson. 

1914 —  A.  A.  Olson. 

1915 —  Mouritz  Linman. 

1916 —  Mouritz  Linman. 

1917 —  A.  A.  Olson. 

1918 —  A.  A.  Olson. 


1894 —  O.  N.  Levine. 

1895 —  O.  N.  Levine. 

1896 —  O.  N.  Levine. 

1897 —  O.  N.  Levine. 

1898 —  John  Nelson. 

1899 —  John  Nelson. 

1900 —  John  Nelson. 

1901 —  John  Nelson. 

1902 —  John  Nelson. 

1903 —  John  Nelson. 

1904 —  W.  H.  Olson. 

1905—  W.  H.  Olson. 

1906 —  W.  H.  Olson. 

1907 —  J.  E.  Stark. 

1908 —  J.  E.  Stark. 

1909 —  J.  W.  Pearson. 

1910 —  J.  W.  Pearson. 

1 9 1 1 —  J.  W.  Pearson. 

1912 —  J.  W.  Pearson. 

1913 —  Alfred  Linman. 

1914 —  Chas.  Dahlgreen. 

19 1 5 —  A.  A.  Johnson. 

1916 —  A.  A.  Johnson. 

1917 —  A.  A.  Johnson. 

1918 —  A.  A.  Johnson. 


Treasurers. 


SOUVENIR 


1 19 


5.  Organists. 


1868— 

1869 — 


1870 —  M.  P.  Zetterberg. 

1871 —  M.  P.  Zetterberg. 

1872 —  Mrs.  N.  Nordling. 

1873 —  Mrs.  N.  Nordling. 

1874 —  John  Eckenbom. 

1875 —  John  Eckenbom. 

1876 —  John  Eckenbom. 

1877 —  Ellen  Cassel. 

1878 —  Ernest  Sandstedt. 

1879 —  Ernest  Sandstedt. 

1880 —  Ernest  Sandstedt. 

1881 —  Ernest  Sandstedt. 

1882 —  Mary  Lindstrom. 

1883 —  Mary  Lindstrom. 

1884 —  Erank  Johnson. 

1885 —  Frank  Johnson. 

1886 —  Emma  Stark. 

1887 —  Mary  Lindstrom. 

1888 —  Emma  Stark. 

1889 —  Emma  Stark. 

1890 —  Emma  Stark. 

1891 —  Emma  Stark. 

1892 —  Erank  Johnson. 

1893 —  Frank  Johnson. 

1894 —  Frank  Johnson. 


1895 —  Mrs.  Rev.  Johnson  and 
Mathilda  Olson. 

1896 —  Mathilda  Olson. 

1897 —  Mathilda  Olson. 

1898 —  Mathilda  Olson. 

1899 —  Mathilda  Olson. 

1900 —  Mary  Hagman. 

1901 —  Mary  Hagman. 

1902 —  Mary  Hagman. 

1903 —  Mary  Hagman. 

1904 —  Mary  Hagman. 

1905 —  Mary  Hagman. 

1906 —  Mary  Hagman. 

1907 —  Mary  Hagman. 

1908 —  Mary  Hagman. 

1909 —  Mary  Hagman. 

1910 —  Ruth  Pearson. 

1 9 1 1 —  Ruth  Pearson. 

1912 —  Ruth  Pearson. 

1913 —  Emil  J.  Swanson. 

1914 —  Emil  J.  Swanson. 

1915 —  Emil  J.  Swanson. 

1916 —  Florence  Peterson. 

1917 —  Florence  Peterson. 

1918 —  Amy  Granlund  and 
Carl  Alexis. 


6.  Sextons. 


1868 — 

1 869 — 

1870 — 

1871 —  O.  J.  Peterson. 

1872 —  O.  J.  Peterson. 

1873 —  N.  Rotting. 

1874 —  N.  Rotting. 

1875 —  Members  in  routine. 

1876 —  Members  in  routine. 


1 877—  Members  in  routine. 

1878 —  Members  in  routine. 

1 879 —  Members  in  routine. 

1880 —  Members  in  routine. 

1881 —  Members  in  routine. 

1882 —  Members  in  routine. 

1883 —  Thomas  Thulin. 

1884 —  James  Erikson. 

1885 —  James  Erikson. 


120 


ANNIVERSARY 


1886 —  James  Erikson. 

1887 —  James  Erikson. 

1888 —  Sven  Gummarson. 

1889 —  Sven  Gummarson. 

1890 —  Sven  Gummarson. 

1891 —  Sven  Gummarson. 

1892 —  Sven  Gummarson. 

1893 —  Sven  Gummarson. 

1894 —  Sven  Gummarson. 

1895 —  Sven  Gummarson. 

1896 —  Sven  Gummarson. 

1897 —  Sven  Gummarson. 

1898 —  Sven  Gummarson. 

1899 —  August  Hagman. 

1900 —  John  Mattson. 

1901 —  John  Mattson. 

1902 —  John  Mattson. 


1903  — John  Mattson. 

1904 —  John  Mattson. 

1905 —  John  E.  Stark. 

1906 —  John  Mattson. 

1907  — John  Mattson. 

1908 — John  Mattson. 

1909  — John  Mattson. 

1910 —  John  Mattson. 

1 9 1 1 —  John  Mattson. 

1912 —  John  Mattson. 

1913 —  John  Mattson. 

1914 —  J.  E.  Stark. 

1915 —  J.  E.  Stark  &  S.  O.  Matson 

1916 —  J.  E.  Stark  &  S.  O.  Matson 

1917 —  J.  E.  Stark  &  S.  O.  Matson 

1918 —  J.  E.  Stark  «Sc  S.  O.  Matson 


SOUVENIR 


121 


AUGUSTANA  COLLEGE  AND  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY. 


122 


ANNIVERSARY 


STATISTICS 


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frame 

h.  &  lot 

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1901 

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frame 

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1904 

frame 

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14 

9.42 

81.62 

3.00 

16.08 

1907 

frame 

h.  &  lot 

12,500 

330  460 

15 

21 

22 

13 

5 

4  . . 

5 

5 

1  11  80 

17 

9.63 

80.25 

25.00 

1908 

frame 

h.  &  lot 

15,000 

360 

540 

30 

14 

69 

4 

i 

1  . . 

5 

4 

1 

28  17 

90 

9.90 

82.50 

11.65 

50.00 

1909 

frame 

h.  &  lot 

15,000 

370 

548 

15 

27 

t 

11  . . 

10 

8 

1 

25  17 

90 

10.80 

90.00 

260.00 

1910 

frame 

h.  &  lot 

20,000 

400 

569 

22 

20 

34 

12 

6 

12 

5 

1  35  17 

90 

11.10 

92.50 

54.32 

161.06 

1911 

frame 

h .  &  lot 

20,000 

425 

622 

23 

20 

44 

8 

1 

8  .. 

12 

8 

2 

42  17 

100 

12.00 

100.00 

24.60 

105 .00 

1912 

frame 

h.  &  lot 

25,000 

450 

636 

11 

17 

36 

12 

2 

9  .. 

18 

. .  16  100 

12.75 

305.00 

10.00 

100.00 

1913 

st  &  br 

h.  &  lot 

60,000 

475 

688 

16 

24 

35 

3 

5 

....  6 

9 

4 

1 

34  12 

90 

14.60 

112.50 

18.45 

140.00 

1914 

st  &  br 

h.  &  lot 

65,000 

500 

702 

11 

12 

99 

4 

o 

<> 

8  .. 

10 

8 

1 

20  15 

100 

13.50 

118.75 

175.75 

137.50 

1915  St  &  br 

h.  &  lot 

65,000 

525 

721 

20 

34 

22 

10 

6 

11  . . 

1 

8 

1  35  18  100 

15.00 

118.75 

60. 00 

166.00 

1916  st  &  br 

h .  &  lot 

6n ,  (XX ) 

530 

798 

17 

10 

8 

11 

8 

1  35  18  100 

15 . 75 

125.00 

73.00 

906.21 

1917 

st  &  br 

b.  &  lot 

65,000 

556 

734 

15 

22 

30 

11 

6 

8 

8 

1 

22  20  237 

21.20 

213.75 

5.00 

336.40 

875 

405  1,038 

365 

146 

282  8 

244 

252 

1  1 

215.83  3,465.95 

791.23  1,961.60 

*  Xo  statistics. 


SOUVENIR 


123 


1868-1918 


~  Xfl 


a 

.0 

rtf 

C/P 

0 

OP 

O 

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s’  and 
Iks’ 

02 

rtf 

0 

CP 

CP 

a 

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OP 

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Cw 

bJ3 

CP 

& 

Total 

a 

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w  4_j 

S2 

^  C/J 

O  C-P 

2  a 

a >  O 

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^  CP 

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+-> 

^■a 

0 

O 

rr-, 

35 

Ph  3  0/ 

*3 ’53 

3  c/3 

0  Tj 

OS 

<•*3 

ft 

GO 

0 

O 

0 

Ph 

—  4-* 

Z  “ 

»h 
►— '  >— 1 

° 

Orp 

Old 

Hor 

C/3 

0 

w 

Cw 

U1 

O 

Eh 

0 

H 

O 

H 

C3 

O 

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4-* 

c/p 


| 

$  $ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

1  $ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

Vacant  . 

Vacant  . 

Vacant  . 

Vacant  . 

Vacant  . 

Vacant  . 

C.  Walline,  v. 
C.  Walline,  v. 
Vacant  . 

76.00 
500.00 
500.00 
500.00 
470.00 
435.00 
457.00 
1 ,210.00 
476.00 
6.14 
3.64 

1 

1 

1 

’  1 

1 

l 

E.  Peterson  . 
E.  Peterson  . 
Vacant  ...... 

Vacant  . 

471  00  Vacant  . 

466.00 

1,046.58 

885.79 

794.75 

£65.10 

798.44 

643.21 

900.87 

738.33 

Vacant  . 

1 

1.40 

Vacant  . 

Vacant  . 

J.  E.  Floren. 
.1 .  E .  Floren . 
A.  Johnson  .. 
A.  Johnson  .. 
A  Johnson  .. 
A.  Johnson  .. 
A.  Johnson  .. 
A.  Johnson  .. 
A.  Johnson  . . 
A.  Johnson  .. 
A.  Johnson  .. 
A.  Johnson  .. 
A.  Johnson  .. 
A.  Johnson  .. 
A.  Johnson  .. 
A.  Johnson  .. 
A.  Johnson  .. 
A.  Johnson  .. 
A.  Johnson  .. 
A.  Johnson  .. 
A.  Johnson  .. 
A.  Johnson  .. 
T.  A.  Conrad 
'1'.  A.  Conrad 
T.  A.  Conrad 
T.  A.  Conrad 
T.  A.  Conrad 
T.  A.  Conrad 
T.  A.  Conrad 
T.  A.  Conrad 
T.  A.  Conrad 
T.  A.  Conrad 
Oscar  Purn  .. 

809.76 

1.726.82 
818.73 

1.269.83 
888.94 

1,160.60 

1,643.07 

1,141.85 

1,321.70 

1,418.36 

1 .639.54 
2,075.72 
3,053.39 
2,897.56 
2,064.68 
8,369.19 
5,875.00 
3 , 792 . 1 3 
7,479.33 
3,119.58’ 
9,697.90 

31 . 193.90 
30,004.08 
7,189.25 
7,210.98 

9.958.55 

45.75 

48.75 

26.18 

44.60 
41.80 
49.26 
45.91 

58.50 

61.50 
66.25 

81.60 
109.90 
112.35 

115.50 
135.00 

119.50 
140.00 
348.00 

157.50 
30.00 

125.00 

131.25 

212.00 

20.82 

28.35 

25.20 

24.42 

34.55 

57.65 

25.75 

120.18 

35.10 

25.85 

36.77 

71.48 

128.70 

92.50 

100.00 

106.25 
112.50 
118.75 
125.00 

131.25 
159.00 

775.00 
865.00 
806.00 
885.75 
1,008.75 
972.00 
886.05 
941 . 90 
938.10 
930.00 
1,314.00 
1,210.00 
1,600.00 
1,500.00 
1,600.00 
1,506.00 
1,613.72 
2,070.00 
2,119.65 
2,010.00 
2,433.90 

66.24 

181.32 

99.22 

106.93 

143.93 
107.46 
127.17 
140.57 

1,077.79 

219.64 

142.03 

179.78 

996.49 

350.87 

301.07 

633.13 

468.25 

618.39 

493.73 

646.31 

1,007.98 

47.00 

76.28 

109.35 

106.56 

96.52 

123.28 
89.32 

229.93 

171.46 

139.47 
170.05 
307.58 
321.01 

246.28 
380.20 
548.71 
366.08 
237.23 
280.76 
459.63 
405.62 

1,047.36 

1,385.47 

933.28 

1,108.21 

1,177.91 

1,408.80 

1,869.23 

2,682.89 

1.648.31 
1 ,705.57 
8,067.11 
5,387.64 
2,474.63 
6,882.18 

2.438.31 
8,516.06 

30,358.72 

29,748.46 

6,414.76 

6,105.02 

8,544.95 

1.30 
1.38 
1.71 
3.00 
2.00 
4.04 
2.50 

3.34 

4.35 
4.57 
3.63 
4.02 
4.66 

5.30 
14.00 
11.35 
50.00 

8.33 

5.76 

5.30 

3.33 

42.35 

5.00 

11.70 

’  2.07 
4.26 
4.01 
3.72 
8.93 
5.00 
7.70 
6.10 
5.90 
30.47 
21.22 
12.24 
14.75 
13.65 
8.80 

Q  PvR 
O  •  dd 

1.50 
1.60 

2.50 

2.37 

4.50 

4.38 
0.83 
4.00 

20.54 

54.00 

39.75 

40.75 
43.25 
40.00 
57.90 

. 

. 

4.00 

8.50 

8.(30 

8.15 

20.00 

21.00 

21.20 

91.45 

0.32 

6.60 

7.60 

7.00 

22.50 

20.00 

21.00 

44.28 

333.42 

135.36 

140.52 

2387.50 

1590.07 

211.20 

27,974.82  8,108.30 

4,912.32 

129,884.87 

160,585.42 

ANNIVERSARY 


124 


PROGRAM 

for  Femtio-arsjubileum  i  Fbrsta  Evangelisk  Lutherska 
Forsamlingen  i  Monmouth,  Illinois 
September  13-15,  1918 


FREDAGEN  DEN  13  SEPTEMBER  KL.  8  E.  M. 

HO  GMASS  oguds  TJaNS  t. 

1.  Psalmen  nr  268 . Forsamlixgex 

2.  Altartjanst.  .  .  .  Pastorerxa  J.  A.  Johns  och  David  Laurexce 

3.  Gradualpsalm  nr  421:  3 — 5 . Forsamlixgex 

4.  Sang — Davids  150  psalm . W ennerberg 

JUBELKOREX. 

5.  Predikan — Text:  Luk.  10:  38 — 42 . Pastor  F.  A.  Johxssox 

6.  Short  Cantata — "The  Lord  Reigneth” . Schnecker 

Jubilee  Chorus. 

7.  Sermon — “Words  for  Evil  Days,”  Eph.  5:  15 — 21 . 

. Pastor  A.  C.  Youxgdahl 

8.  Halsning  . Forsamlixgexs  pastor 

9.  Palysningar. 

10.  Psalmen  nr  27 2. 

11.  Altartjanst. 

LORDAGEN  DEN  14  SEPTEMBER. 

Kl.  9  f.  m.  Distriktets  affarsmote. 

Kl.  10  f.  m.  Samtal  ofver  Augsburgiska  bekannelsens  tjugonde  artikel : 
Om  rattfardigheten  och  goda  garningar. 

Inledare:  pastor  C.  E.  Olsson. 


SOUVENIR 


125 


Kl.  12  mid. 
Kl.  2  e.  m. 


KL  6  e.  m. 


Gemensam  middag  serveras  af  Dorkas-foreningen. 
Predikan  af  pastor  F.  R.  Carlson. 

Sang — Kvartetten. 

Fortsattning  af  samtalet. 

Mottagning  for  prjisterskapet  i  priistgarden. 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 


SUNDAY,  SEPTEMBER  15,  10:30  A.  M. 
COMMUNION  SERVICE . 

Hymn  No.  223:  1 — 3 . Congregation 

Preparatory  Sermon . Pastor  Waldo  Ekeberg 

Liturgy . Pastors  N.  E.  Kron  and  Gideon  Olson 

Hymn  No.  302 . Congregation 

Anthem — “Even  Me”  (Warren) . Church  Choir 

Predikan . Pastor  Titus  A.  Conrad 

Anthem — “Seek  Ye  the  Lord”  (Roberts) . Church  Choir 

Announcements. 

Hymn  No.  231  :  1 — 2,  and  Liturgy. 

Hymn  No.  222,  and  Liturgy. 


SUNDAY,  3  P.  M. 

ANNIVERSARY  SERVICE. 

Hymn  No.  187 . Congregation 

Scripture  Reading  and  Prayer . Pastor  G.  Olson 

Anthem — Hark,  Hark,  My  Soul!  (Shelley)  .  .  .  .Jubilee  Chorus 

Address . Pastor  Peter  Peterson,  Chicago 

Anniversary  Offering. 

Hymn  No.  93:  1 — 3 . Congregation 

Tal . ...Pastor  T.  A.  Conrad 

Duet . Mrs.  Oscar  Purn  and  A.  V.  Peterson 

Historical  Sketch . The  Pastor 

Hymn  No.  193:  1 — 2,  and  Benediction. 


10 


126 


SUNDAY,  8  P.  M. 

SACRED  CONCERT. 


ANNIVERSARY 


1.  Organ  Prelude  and  Processional. 

2.  Scripture  Reading  and  Prayer . Pastor  W.  P.  Axdersox 

3.  Organ — a.  Toccata  and  Fuga  in  D  Minor . Bach 

b.  Prelude . Wagnei *  (Arr.  by  Warren) 

Prof.  Carl  Alexis. 

4.  The  Cantata  “The  City  of  God,”  by  Reed-Matthews,  rendered  by 
the  Jubilee  Chorus,  assisted  by  Octette.  Soloists:  Esther  John¬ 
son,  M  rs.  Oscar  Purn,  T.  L.  Rvdbeck  and  A.  V.  Peterson. 

5.  Short  Address . Pastor  Peter  Petersox,  Chicago 

6.  Closing  Remarks — The  Pastor  of  Congregation  and  the  President 

of  the  District. 

7.  Benediction. 


. 


I 


. 

' 

’ 


■ 

H  ■ 

1 


. 


:  - 


J  .  • 

■ 

■Hi:‘ 

- 


■ 


f 


